Scientists have built a tiny diving suit for ‘cyborg cockroaches’. And it could save human lives
Scientists at Nanyang Technological University have developed a 3D-printed 'diving suit' for cyborg cockroaches to enable them to operate in underwater or low-oxygen environments. This technology aims to assist in search and rescue missions following natural disasters.
Why it matters
Advancements in bio-hybrid robotics could significantly improve the efficiency of search and rescue operations in hazardous environments where human access is limited.
Imagine a swarm of cockroaches being released in the aftermath of a disaster zone. They scuttle under rubble and dive through flooded pipes. All the while, their attached infrared cameras scan for people. While it may sound like a science fiction film, scientists studying remote-controlled insects are gradually turning this into reality.
‘Cyborg insects’ are living insects fitted with electronic controllers, and can be guided to move using electrical impulses. Scientists at the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), led by Hirotaka Sato, have spent over a decade researching this technology and developing cyborg insects that can be used across land, air – and now water.
And they were deployed during Operation Lionheart, a search and rescue mission after the 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar on 28th March 2025.
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