Scientists turned a Madagascar cockroach into a remote-controlled cyborg

Many sci-fi works popularized the term "cyborg" long before the appearance of a hybrid of a living being and a machine became possible. But in recent years, scientists have come a long way in creating such organisms.

For example, Japanese specialists were able to turn the Madagascar cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa) into a cyborg. They implanted special electrodes into the body of the topical cockroach of the Blaberidae family, which made it possible to remotely control the insect.

The scientists "equipped" the cockroach with a tiny backpack, with which they attached a wireless module and a lithium-ion battery to the body of the Madagascar cockroach. They also attached a very thin block of organic solar cells to the insect. Its thickness was 0.004 mm. Scientists had to work on the combination of elements of different hardness in order not to traumatize the cockroach, because its thorax deforms during movement.

When the appendages of the abdomen were stimulated with electricity, the cockroach took commands from specialists and turned in the right direction while moving. Scientists believe that such a development can be useful in the examination of hard-to-reach places. Also, the researchers intend to create an identical system, but for flying insects.

Source: npj Flexible Electronics, New Atlas