Singapore Dispatches Cyborg Cockroaches to Aid Search for Missing Persons
6 cm Long, Equipped with Cameras and Sensors to Gather Information
Singapore dispatched 10 "cyborg cockroaches" to Myanmar to support search and rescue operations following the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that killed more than 3,000 people on the 28th of last month.
On the 5th (local time), Singaporean media outlet The Straits Times reported that these 10 cockroaches were deployed to the Myanmar rescue site on the 30th of last month. This is the world's first use of insect cyborgs in a humanitarian operation, and it is also the first time they have been deployed on site.
These cyborg cockroaches were jointly developed by the Science and Technology Agency (HTX) under Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs, Nanyang Technological University, and Class Engineering and Solutions. Earlier, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) launched Operation Lionheart on the 29th of last month, the day after the earthquake, dispatching 80 personnel and 4 search dogs to Myanmar to rescue missing persons. The insects joined the operation the following day along with 2 HTX engineers and 2 engineers from Class Engineering and Solutions.
Since their initial deployment on the 31st of last month, the cyborg cockroaches were deployed twice on the 4th in Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar. Although no survivors have been found so far, the cyborg cockroaches have reportedly been a great help to the HTX team in carrying out missions in some of the hardest-hit areas.
The species of these cockroaches is the Madagascar hissing cockroach, measuring about 6 cm in length. They are equipped with infrared cameras and sensors, and their small size allows them to explore narrow spaces beneath debris. These cockroaches are remotely controllable; electrodes are used to stimulate and control their movements. Information collected through the cameras and sensors is processed by machine learning algorithms to determine if there are signs of life. This information is wirelessly transmitted back to engineers to assist the team in deploying rescue personnel.
The cyborg cockroaches were first unveiled at the "Milipol Asia-Pacific and TechX Summit" held in Singapore in April last year, with plans for official deployment starting next year. Although insect cyborgs are still in the research and development stage, Singapore decided to rapidly develop this technology to complement the efforts of rescue workers in Myanmar, even if only slightly.
The first deployment site for the cockroaches on the 31st of last month was a collapsed hospital. The SCDF used search dogs to inspect some areas before using the HTX cockroaches to investigate deeper beneath the rubble. This operation took about 45 minutes. The HTX team reported that the cockroaches remain in good condition and survive by eating only carrots and water.
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