Scientists have demonstrated how a live cockroach equipped with a computerised 'backpack' could be steered remotely for search and rescue missions. 'There is still a long way to go before artificial mini robots are really used for search and rescue missions in disaster-hit areas,' the experts say in their paper. Currently, bulky equipment such as electronic cameras and seismic sensors are used to search through rubble, as well as sniffer dogs. It could also operate for up to 2.2 hours using a 120 mAh battery, suitable for a practical urban search and rescue (USAR) mission. The team's research paper, entitled, 'Insect-Computer Hybrid System for Autonomous Search and Rescue Mission', has been published as a pre-print.

Source: Daily Mail June 08, 2021 15:50 UTC