Cyborg cockroaches could deliver emergency aid in collapsed buildings
Researchers fitted giant burrowing cockroaches with cameras and remotely activated injectors to create 'paraborgs' that can navigate rubble and deliver emergency care when rescuers can't reach victims. In tests, close-range injections succeeded 95% of the time within 15 cm, while full navigation-and-injection succeeded in 72% of trials. Insects are anaesthetised during fitting and live like normal cockroaches afterward. The long-term aim is swarms of cyborg insects that extend rescue teams' reach, potentially within five to ten years.