Cyborg cockroaches with tiny syringes could soon join search and rescue teams in major disasters

Giant burrowing cockroaches with added cameras and medical injectors are being tested as potential ‘first responders’ in earthquakes Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast For people trapped under rubble in an earthquake or similar disaster, the arrival of a fleet of cockroaches could one day be the difference between life and death. Biorobotics engineers have been working on the design of six-legged cyborg insects with cameras and miniature medical injectors for search and rescue missions. The roaches are designed to deliver emergency aid to people trapped in collapsed buildings, caves or other places too dangerous for rescuers to reach. The “paraborgs” have been developed by University of Queensland biorobotics researchers, working with biomedical engineers at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). In proof-of-concept testing, the paraborgs achieved 95% success with close-range injection (positioned within 15cm of the target).

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