Scientists from NTU Singapore, Osaka University, and Hiroshima University have developed an advanced swarm navigation algorithm for cyborg insects that prevents them from becoming stuck while navigating challenging terrain.
Published in Nature Communications, the new algorithm represents a significant advance in swarm robotics. It could pave the way for applications in disaster relief, search-and-rescue missions, and infrastructure inspection.
Cyborg insects are real insects equipped with tiny electronic devices on their backs - consisting of various sensors like optical and infrared cameras, a battery, and an antenna for communication - that allow their movements to be remotely controlled for specific tasks.
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.
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.
Co-corresponding authors of the paper, Professor Masaki Ogura from Hiroshima University and Professor Wakamiya Naoki from Osaka University, developed the swarm control algorithm and computer programmes, while NTU Professor Hirotaka Sato and his team prepared the cyborg insect swarm, implemented the algorithm on the insects' electronic backpacks, and conducted the physical experiments in Singapore.
The scientists noted several benefits to their new swarm algorithm during lab experiments. Allowing the cyborg insects to move more freely reduced the risk of the cyborgs getting stuck in obstacles, and nearby cyborgs could also help free those stuck or flipped over.
