Researchers at the University of Queensland are developing technology that could one day turn common beetles into life-saving tools for search and rescue operations in disaster zones.
Led by Dr Thang Vo-Doan and Research Assistant Lachlan Fitzgerald from the Biorobotics lab in UQ’s School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, the project involves fitting darkling beetles (Zophobas morio) with microchip backpacks that allow them to be remotely guided using video game controllers.
“Beetles possess many natural gifts that make them the masters of climbing and manoeuvring in small, complex spaces such as dense rubble, that are difficult for robots to navigate,” Dr Vo-Doan said.
“Our work harnesses these gifts and adds programmable controls that allow for precise directional guidance, without affecting the lifespan of the beetle.”
The technology works by stimulating the beetle’s antennae or hardened forewings (elytra) with small electrodes to prompt movement in specific directions.
The research team hopes the approach could eventually enable search crews to locate survivors trapped under rubble within hours, rather than days.
Fitzgerald said recent demonstrations showed the beetles could be directed to move side-to-side and climb vertical surfaces.
“While robots at this scale have made strides in locomotion, the transition from horizontal surfaces to walls remains a formidable challenge for them,” he said.
“This difficulty arises from the need for active foot pads, soft environmental interactions, and sophisticated sensing capabilities – all things that our cyborg insects possess naturally that allows them to access any area that is required in a disaster environment.”
The project, which is a collaboration with UQ’s School of the Environment, the University of New South Wales, and Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, is still in development, with the researchers aiming to trial the beetles in real-world disaster scenarios within five years.
Although the climbing tests currently rely on tethered power supplies, Dr Vo-Doan said the beetles had also successfully climbed while carrying batteries equivalent to their own body weight.
The team is now working on integrating miniature cameras and more efficient power systems to expand the beetles’ capabilities.
“If people have been trapped under an extensive amount of rubble, you want to be able to find them as quickly as possible and start planning how to get them out,” Dr Vo-Doan said.
“We hope to produce a tool that can easily move through chaotic environments to pinpoint a person’s exact location, provide clues to any injuries, and give rescuers a picture of what needs to be done to free them.”
The research has been published in Advanced Science.
