Cyborg Cockroaches Can Now Be Controlled With UV Goggles

This probably wasn’t on your radar for the week. Researchers at Osaka University have developed a method to guide cyborg insects using tiny helmets—without the need for invasive surgeries or internal implants.

A Gentler Approach to Insect Control

Keisuke Morishima, the lead researcher of the study combining biology and robotics, explained that this new approach offers a more efficient and less aggressive alternative to traditional insect control techniques. “Instead of interfering directly with the insect’s brain, we’re guiding it through its own senses,” he said. “That makes the system safer, more stable, and more sustainable.”

The helmets, specially designed for cockroaches, feature small ultraviolet (UV) lights and are powered by a backpack with wireless sensors. These sensors detect when the cockroach stops moving and trigger the UV lights, taking advantage of a natural behavior called negative phototaxis—where insects instinctively avoid UV light.

Guided Movement Through Light

By shining UV light into either eye, researchers were able to steer the cockroach left or right. The study, recently published in Advanced Intelligent Systems, demonstrated consistent results over 150 trials, with the insects navigating a maze-like environment. About 94% managed to exit successfully, compared to just 24% of cockroaches without the helmet.

Beyond being less harmful to the insects, this method also avoids the decrease in effectiveness seen in systems that rely on nerve or muscle stimulation through electrical signals—techniques that become less reliable over time as insects adapt to the stimuli.

Potential Real-World Applications

This bio-hybrid control system could prove useful in environments too challenging or dangerous for traditional robots, such as search and rescue operations after natural disasters or monitoring sensitive ecosystems.

It might also be handy for discreet surveillance—so next time you see a bug wearing something odd on its head, keep in mind: it might be watching you.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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