Ten cyborg cockroaches from Singapore have been deployed for the first time in a humanitarian operation, assisting in search-and-rescue efforts after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28, killing over 3,000 people.
Developed by the Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX), Nanyang Technological University, and Klass Engineering and Solutions, these cockroaches are fitted with infrared cameras and sensors, allowing them to navigate tight spaces under rubble to detect signs of life.
The insects, part of Singapore Civil Defence Force’s Operation Lionheart, are remotely controlled using electrodes and powered by machine-learning algorithms to relay data back to engineers on the ground.
Despite not having found any survivors yet, they have helped scan areas inaccessible to humans and dogs, and the team remains committed to refining the technology through this challenging real-world experience.
