Japanese scientists created a cyborg cockroach.
Boffins designed the remote-controlled insect to enter hazardous areas and undertake search and rescue missions without needing to be reloaded.
Researchers from Tokyo’s RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research needed to adapt certain components to the tiny Malagasy cockroaches to allow for the insect’s natural movements.
If you’d like to see this content, please edit yours .
To find out more about how we use cookies, see our Guide to cookies.
The scientists were able to spin the robotic beetles left or right while the solar panels kept the animals in check for over a month.
Dr Masataka Sasabe of RIKEN Global Communications said: “Keeping the battery properly charged is essential: no one wants a team of cyborg cockroaches that are suddenly out of control.
“While it is possible to build docking stations to recharge the battery, the need to return and recharge could disrupt urgent missions.
“Therefore, the best solution is to include a solar cell on board that can ensure that the battery always remains charged.”