At the University of Queensland, scientists led by Dr. Thang Vo-Doan have created cyborg beetles — insects capable of taking part in rescue operations. Lightweight microchips, a kind of “backpacks,” have been mounted on the backs of darkling beetles, allowing the insects to be controlled remotely with an ordinary joystick.
Electrodes built into the device act on the beetle’s legs and antennae, guiding its movement. The insects’ health is not affected — they retain their endurance and activity. Thanks to beetles’ natural ability to squeeze into narrow gaps and climb vertical surfaces, the new technology could prove invaluable in building collapses and other hard-to-reach places, where rescuers’ work is especially dangerous and difficult.
In the near future, the developers plan to equip the backpacks with miniature cameras and improved batteries. This will make it possible not only to inspect spaces, but also to transmit video information to rescue services. The main thing is not to accidentally swat such a development with a slipper!
