Cyborg Cockroaches Get Diving Suits

Scientists from Nanyang Technological University and Waseda University have developed a flexible 'diving suit' for cyborg cockroaches, allowing them to survive and move underwater and in low-oxygen environments for up to three hours. This breakthrough, led by Hirotaka Sato and with contributions from Shinjiro Umezu, expands the utility of cyborg insects in search-and-rescue missions, particularly in disaster zones with flooded rubble or partially submerged spaces. The suit, tested on Madagascar hissing cockroach, consists of an oxygen-generation tank, a flexible shell, and silicone oxygen-supply tubes, enabling the insects to breathe underwater. This technology builds on over a decade of cyborg insect research at Nanyang Technological University, with previous deployments in actual search-and-rescue operations, such as after the Myanmar earthquake. Future plans include testing in simulated disaster environments, improving durability, and integrating sensors and navigation systems for broader field use, including inspecting flooded pipes and tunnels.