The scientific team of the University of Queensland in Australia has presented another innovative project aimed at saving human lives. They managed to turn one of the most resilient and mobile insects in nature — the beetle — into a “cyborg”, making it a unique assistant for the search and rescue field.
Within the project, an ordinary beetle was equipped with a chip and a micro-backpack with electrodes. The scientists managed to remotely control the beetle's movement with the help of game controllers — by electrical signals they stimulated the insect’s antennae and wings, increasing its natural ability to turn or climb a wall.
According to the research head Dr. Tang Vo-Doan and his assistant Lachlan Fitzgerald, beetles have a significant advantage over conventional robots. They can easily move through complex, narrow, cramped and uneven structures. This is especially valuable for finding people trapped under debris after earthquakes, explosions, or other emergencies.
Currently, the team is working on adding a camera and a battery to the miniature “cyborg-beetle” backpack. In the future, this technology will not only help to find victims, but also transmit accurate information about the environment to rescuers.
Specialists plan to test this technology in real rescue operations within five years. If it is successful, global search-and-rescue standards could be completely changed.
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