Explained: How Can Cyborg Roaches, Currently Being Perfected By Scientists, Save Life?

In another innovative invention, scientists in Japan are building cyborg roaches that can be controlled by remotes and might save your life. These scientists belong to the Riken Institute in Japan. They have named their in-progress creation "Robobug."

What are these cyborg roaches being built for?

These remote-controlled bugs are being developed with one purpose: to save your lives. Their creators are planning to deploy them to facilitate search and rescue operations after natural disasters such as earthquakes. These tiny crawlers can crawl into tightly packed rubbles and search for survivors. This way, these roaches can serve as effective alternatives to miniature robots that were designed for the same task of search and rescue operations after calamities.

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Dr. Fukuda, a senior scientist at Riken, has told the media that these insects can generate power by using their muscles. Thus, they are far more energy efficient than miniature robots.

What are the challenges with cyborg roaches?

For the past decade, several scientists have been trying to build critters controlled by remotes. However, Fukuda and his team of scientists have successfully solved some of the problems that hindered these previous attempts.

One such problem was recharging these cyborg roaches. Due to their small surface area, it was difficult to maintain a good power backup for these roaches as they could only accommodate tiny batteries on their backs. To solve this, the Riken scientists invented a solar cell system that these cyborgs could use for recharging their batteries. These solar cells are mounted on small backpacks for these creatures and are made of small wires and super thin organic cell modules to facilitate the movement of their legs. They can use sunlight to recharge the bugs in around 30 minutes. Moreover, this technology won't affect the lifestyle of cyborg roaches, as solar backpacks can be easily removed after each mission.

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However, more work needs to be done on the technology as these cells deteriorate swiftly after getting mounted on cyborg roaches. Scientists are also trying to build an algorithm that can direct a roach to seek sunlight whenever it needs a recharge during the operation to make them more efficient.

Another problem that scientists have encountered is reducing the size of components to facilitate more effortless movement for the roaches. It is because scientists also need space to mount cameras and sensors on these inventions. Till now, the innovators have spent Japanese money worth $35 to construct each solar backpack for these roaches. The parts were purchased from Akihabara, the popular electronics district of Japan.

What's the bottom line?

Besides being used in cyborg roaches, Fukuda and his team of scientists believe that solar cell film can also be utilized in other areas. He said the film is made up of microscopic gold, silver, and plastic sizes. Thus, it can be used in skin patches or clothing to monitor someone's vital signs.

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As per Dr. Fakuda, the solar film can be enough to charge a mobile phone in ample sunlight. He hopes his team of scientists will develop a fully functional and ready-to-use cyborg roach for the real world in the next three to five years.