A swarm of Cyborg Insects that can work together to solve real-world problems was developed by the researchers, which was made possible because of advancements in swarm robotics. These Cyborg Insects are designed to perform remote tasks and will be helpful in exploring areas that are hard to reach by humans.
These cyborgs are real insects that have tiny backpacks of sensors, cameras, and communication devices. They are guided by the electrical signals and are instructed to navigate through challenging conditions and overcome obstacles as a team.
The entire system is led by the leader of the group, and others follow; if one gets stuck, then the others help them, and together they complete the mission. This gives an effective system that will give them access to go through tight spaces, making the entire system compact and efficient.
The professors Masaki Ogura from Hiroshima University and Wakamiya Naoki from Osaka University developed the swarm control algorithm and supported computer programs. Meanwhile, NTU Professor Hirotaka Sato and his team prepared the cyborg insect swarm, integrated the algorithm into their electronic backpacks, and conducted physical experiments in Singapore. Their experiments have shown promise to make this Cyborg army fully autonomous, thus aims to conduct the experiment without any human intervention.
The researchers are trying to improve the capabilities of the Cyborg insects by making them capable of carrying objects and testing them in real-world disaster scenarios and in earthquake rescue. This research offers an opportunity for nature and technology to join hands and skillfully tackle the toughest challenge. Thus turning these insects into life-saving heroes.
