In a world first, 10 cyborg cockroaches were deployed to help the Singapore search and rescue team following the 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar on March 28.
These insect-robot hybrids are essentially Madagascar hissing cockroaches fitted with tiny “backpacks” containing infrared cameras and sensors to detect human heat signatures, according to The Straits Times newspaper.
As these insects are only 6cm (2 inches) long, they can navigate tiny spaces. Electrodes are used to send signals to their nerves and muscles and control their movements.
The information they gather is fed into a machine-learning algorithm to look for any signs of life, and then sent to engineers on site wirelessly.
They were developed by Singapore’s Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX), together with Nanyang Technological University and Klass Engineering and Solutions.
Although they were still in the developmental stage, the disaster in Myanmar spurred HTX to fast-track the prototypes.
HTX flew them and four engineers to join the Singapore Civil Defence Force’s (SCDF) 80-strong Operation Lionheart, where they were used in some of the worst-hit areas, including Mandalay and the capital Naypyidaw.