New sense of direction for cyborg insect swarms

Published in Nature Communications, the new algorithm from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), and Japan’s Osaka University and Hiroshima University is claimed to represent a significant advance in swarm robotics. Potential applications include disaster relief, search-and-rescue missions, and infrastructure inspection.

Cyborg insects are insects equipped with electronic devices on their backs – including sensors, a battery, and an antenna - that allow their movements to be remotely controlled. 

The control of a single cyborg insect was first demonstrated by Professor Hirotaka Sato from NTU Singapore’s School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in 2008.

However, a single insect is insufficient for operations such as search-and-rescue missions, where earthquake survivors are spread out and there is an optimal 72-hour window for locating them.

In 2021 and 2024, Prof Sato and his partners from Singapore’s Home Team Science & Technology Agency (HTX) and Klass Engineering and Solutions demonstrated how cyborg insects may be used for search and rescue operations in future.

This latest paper on the new swarm system uses a leader-follower dynamic, where one cyborg insect acts as a group leader guiding 19 others.