10 cockroach-hybrid robots help with SCDF's search & rescue efforts in Myanmar

Engineers from Singapore's Home Team Science & Technology Agency (HTX) brought 10 cockroach-hybrid robots to help with search and rescue efforts in Myanmar, following the 7.7 magnitude earthquake on Mar. 28.

According to HTX, this is the world's first deployment of cyborg insect technology for a humanitarian operation.

With real-life data and experience, this deployment will contribute to the development of insect-hybrid robot capability.

According to the Straits Times (ST), the cockroach-hybrid robots were first deployed in Myanmar on Mar. 31, two days after SCDF's deployment.

The first deployment was at a collapsed hospital and the cockroach-hybrid robots were deployed to do a deeper check under the rubble for about 45 minutes after a search conducted by SCDF and their search dogs.

The robots were deployed twice on Apr. 3 in the capital of Naypyitaw too, according to ST.

As of Apr. 5, the death toll in Myanmar has surpassed 3,300 according to Myanmar's ruling military.

Cockroaches? Yes, cockroaches.

These cockroaches are Madagascar hissing cockroaches, each at about 6cm long.

Equipped with little infrared camera “backpacks”, the hardy little creatures are envisioned to be deployed in difficult-to-access disaster sites.

Their infrared cameras can then detect human heat signatures, paving the way for rescue attempts.

Not only that, the cockroaches’ movement can also be controlled by sending electrical signals into their neuromuscular sites.

The information gathered through the cameras and sensors is processed by a machine-learning algorithm before it is sent to the engineers on-site wirelessly, ST reported.

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