Cyborg Insects: A New Frontier in Disaster Response

To create "cyborg insects," researchers attach a small device, like a backpack, to an insect's back and use electrical stimulation to control its neuromuscular system. These hybrid creatures are drawing attention as mobile alternatives to small robots.

A research team led by Professor Hirotaka Sato at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore has recently developed a method for mass-producing these backpacks. Their goal is to expand the use of cyborg insects in disaster search operations as well as routine infrastructure inspections.

Professor Sato grew up in Sendai, a city heavily affected by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. He explained: "This is a technology we want to use precisely because Japan experiences so many disasters. We genuinely want to save lives and hope to demonstrate this technology in Japan as well."

*Houses in Sendai destroyed by the tsunami. March 12, 2011, 7:37 AM.*

Battery Issue

In recent years, there has been a global push to miniaturize robots. In 2025, insect-sized drones drew significant attention. But as devices shrink, so do their batteries. Small robots struggle to generate enough power not only for movement but also for tasks like photography and wireless communication, which limits their operational time.

For example, small robots could be used for search operations in buildings collapsed by earthquakes, but battery constraints make practical deployment difficult.

Professor Sato notes, "A breakthrough is needed to overcome the current limitations. If a major earthquake hits a metropolitan area in the next 10 or 20 years, we may not be ready."

Cyborg insects offer a solution: the insects themselves handle walking or flying, while the electricity needed for stimulation is minimal. This allows batteries to power cameras, sensors, and communication devices. Depending on wireless usage, cyborg insects can operate for about three hours.

Controlling Flight

Japanese beetles (kanabun) are ideal for controlled flight. With the backpack mounted on their backs, the beetles keep their hard forewings closed while flying with only their hind wings — perfect for precision control.

Flight is managed by electrical pulses: multiple short pulses to the optic lobes trigger takeoff, a single long pulse initiates landing, and wing muscles are stimulated to steer left or right.

Madagascar Cockroaches

For mass production, the team focused on Madagascar cockroaches, which are native to Africa. These large, non-aggressive insects (5–8 cm long) cannot fly, have a stable body structure, and live 2–5 years. Unlike typical pest cockroaches, they pose minimal hygiene risks and are widely used in research and education.

To control them, electrodes are implanted in the antennae and sensory organs on their backs. Stimulating one side's sensory organ causes the cockroach to turn in the opposite direction, while activating the tail-like cerci triggers acceleration.

The insects follow a pre-programmed route. If an obstacle blocks the path, continuous stimulation is paused to let the insect navigate freely before resuming control, guiding it along the intended path.

Field Deployment

Cyborg insects could be equipped with infrared cameras, sensors for low-light conditions, and wireless devices to relay information, making them valuable tools in disaster search operations.

*Collapsed buildings in Pinmana following the March earthquake in Myanmar. (©Sankei by Tomoo Iwata)*

In March 2025, after a major earthquake in Myanmar caused building collapses and trapped residents, rescue teams from Singapore deployed ten cyborg insects. This marked their first operational use. The insects successfully explored collapsed structures, although obstacles like steel beams occasionally disrupted communication.

Previously, attaching backpacks manually took over an hour per insect. To scale up production, the team developed an automated assembly system using AI-based image recognition and robotic arms. The system identifies optimal electrode placement and performs precise operations, reducing production time to just over one minute per cyborg insect.