A group of Australian researchers has developed cyborg cockroaches equipped with cameras and small injection devices to assist in treating victims trapped under rubble. The insects, called "paraborgs," were designed by scientists from the University of Queensland and the University of New South Wales with the aim of transporting medications to people isolated in hard-to-reach locations.
The technology uses the northern Queensland giant burrowing cockroach, considered the heaviest cockroach species in the world. The researchers install a small backpack with the necessary equipment on the animals and implant an electrode in their nervous system.
Through this system, it is possible to control the cockroaches' movements through electrical signals sent to the electrode. In this way, researchers can direct the insects to victims who need medical attention in areas where it would be difficult or dangerous to send rescue teams or other robotic devices.
