Why Build Tiny Robots When You Can Put Electronics on Insects?

Authored by Karla  Rossouw

When we think of the future of robotics, we usually imagine shiny metal gears, artificial intelligence or probably something you saw in “Transformers”. Startups spend millions attempting to build tiny machines that can navigate disaster zones or spy on hostile targets. But building micro-robots from scratch is incredibly expensive and physically limiting.

So what if the best hardware for a tiny robot was actually a living bug or, more specifically, a cockroach? A German company is proving that sometimes, nature provides much better solutions than what could be created in a factory line.

What SWARM Biotactics Is Building

A German startup named SWARM Biotactics is working on a completely new type of technology by turning Madagascar hissing cockroaches into living cyborgs. They’re achieving this by attaching miniature backpacks to these insects, which currently weigh around 15 grams but are actively being reduced to 10 grams.

These small packs can carry various sensors like cameras, microphones and Doppler radar to gather information out in the field. This technology turns ordinary bugs into autonomous bio-robotic systems capable of recording real-time data where humans can’t easily reach.

Why Use Insects Instead Of Robots?

Engineering miniature machines from scratch is extremely difficult because small, artificial components break easily and struggle to carry enough battery power to move for long periods. On the other hand, using an existing biological body combats many of these challenges.

Insects already possess incredible natural mobility, which allows them to withstand dangerous environments and high temperatures.

SWARM Biotactics takes advantage of this natural resilience, so they only have to manufacture the lightweight sensor payloads rather than the entire mechanical structure. This means that the company can produce highly capable units at a biological cost and scale.

How Do You Control A Cockroach?

To direct these living units, researchers perform careful procedures to implant electrodes into the insects. Different research teams use different electrode placements. Some systems stimulate the antennae, while others use electrodes positioned near the insect’s neck, around the pronotum. Through a small circuit board on the insect’s back, operators deliver mild electrical pulses that can influence the insect’s movement.

By stimulating specific areas on the insect’s body, researchers can trigger turning responses and guide the cockroach in a desired direction. Additionally, researchers have developed algorithms that can control dozens of these cyborgs simultaneously, which means that an entire group can be directed toward a single target without individual manual steering.

Where Could Cyborg Insects Be Useful?

You might wonder why someone would ever think of using insects as cyborgs. These bio-robotic units are specifically being designed for situations where traditional drones or human personnel can’t reach or go safely. In terms of search-and-rescue operations, a swarm of cyborg insects could crawl through the tiny cracks of a collapsed building to locate trapped survivors quickly.

When it comes to defence and policing applications, they offer a very low visual and audio signature. Because of this, military teams can deploy them into politically sensitive or hostile urban environments to gather covert intelligence without exposing soldiers to immediate danger. However, while their potential is substantial, field deployments are still in the testing phases alongside groups like the German military.

What Happens When The Hardware Is Alive?

Unlike a normal drone that can sit in a box for months, living hardware requires constant care. These cockroaches must be fed diets of leftover vegetables or cat food, provided with fresh water and kept in proper terrariums. Furthermore, a living creature has its own natural instincts. Insects are easily distracted by heat, light and pheromones.

Therefore, engineers must carefully calibrate the electrical stimulations so the cockroach follows commands instead of running towards a food source. Unfortunately, no matter how advanced the backpack is, the insect can still be easily exterminated with common chemical pesticides.

Building A Business Around Living Hardware

Turning this science experiment into a profitable business requires serious manufacturing speed. Historically, it took skilled operators up to an hour to manually attach the electronic backpacks to the insects. Luckily, Singapore researchers recently developed an automated factory line using an AI-guided robotic arm that can correctly assemble a cyborg cockroach in just 68 seconds.

As a result, mass production is becoming a realistic goal. SWARM Biotactics recently secured 13 million Euros in funding to scale up their proprietary sensors and move from laboratory testing into real-world pilot programmes. While biology removes the need to build mechanical legs, it introduces new costs related to animal husbandry and scaling living swarms.

Where Do You Draw The Ethical Line?

Using animals for technology always raises difficult questions about animal welfare. Currently, there aren’t any legal guidelines in the UK that protect insects in research laboratories, which allows scientists to experiment freely. Some experts argue that the electrical pulses used to steer the cockroaches are essentially electric shocks, which force the insect to move away from a painful stimulus.

On the other hand, proponents note that the insects are well cared for and that their natural hardiness prevents long-term damage. Aside from animal welfare, there are major concerns regarding surveillance and cybersecurity. The backpacks carry tiny radios that are difficult to encrypt properly, leaving them vulnerable to signal jamming or hacking during sensitive missions.

Cyborg Insects Could Be The Future Of Robotics

By way of natural selection, nature has already spent millions of years evolving in a way that allows for efficient movement and saves power. Instead of spending huge amounts of time and money trying to build tiny robots from scratch, startups like SWARM Biotactics are choosing to build on top of what already exists.

While there are still ethical questions and security challenges to resolve, recent factory breakthroughs prove that producing these cyborgs quickly is entirely possible. Consequently, we could be looking at a new era for search-and-rescue and defence operations. The future of robotics doesn’t have to be purely mechanical, but the smartest engineering solution could simply be biology doing what it does best.