Latest news with #StefanWilhelm
The Irish Sun
24-07-2025
- Science
- The Irish Sun
Meet the battle-ready cyborg cockroaches that humans can control for SPY missions
FIRST there were spy bees, now there are battle-ready cockroaches. Technology is changing, and therefore, so is warfare. 3 A human-controlled spy cockroach could go on secret spy missions to expose information about enemy positions Credit: SWARM Biotactics 3 The bio-robotic startup secured €10 million in seed funding last month to help get its bugs onto the battlefield Credit: Reuters It might feel plucked out of science fiction, but German military tech company SWARM Biotactics is working on cyborg cockroaches that can spy behind enemy lines. The insects - hailed for being remarkably durable - are equipped with miniature backpacks fitted with cameras and other tools to gather data on enemies in real time. Human operators will be able to control them by zapping their tiny brains with electrical pulses. Each zap allows humans to control the insects' movements remotely, meaning they don't have to enter hostile environments themselves in order to gather information. READ MORE ON FUTURE TECH "Our bio-robots - based on living insects - are equipped with neural stimulation, sensors, and secure communication modules," Swarm Biotactic's CEO Stefan Wilhelm told "They can be steered individually or operate autonomously in swarms." For example, a human-controlled spy cockroach could go on secret spy missions to expose information about enemy positions. The bio-robotic startup secured €10 million in seed funding last month that will help get its bugs onto the battlefield. Most read in Tech "Conventional systems fail where control is needed most - denied zones, collapsed infrastructure, politically complex terrain," said Wilhelm. "SWARM is the first company building an entirely new category of robotics: biologically integrated, AI-enabled, and mass-deployable systems for persistent intelligence in places no drone or ground robot can reach. Watch terrifying 'terminator' robot dogs with AI-targeted rifles being tested by US Marines "This funding moves us from deep tech to deployment - delivering the infrastructure democracies need to operate more smartly, more safely, and with total tactical awareness.' But SWARM aren't the only ones trying to bio-hack insects. A team of While the device is strapped to a bee's back, three needles are pierced into the bee's brain. Operators can then send electronic pulses into the bee's brain and command it to fly in whichever direction they want. During tests, published in the Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering earlier this month, the bees obeyed their operator's commands with 90 per cent accuracy. Beyond warfare, mind-controlled bugs could be used to help disaster relief operations. UKRAINE WAR SHIFT Wilhelm believes Europe is entering a decade where "access, autonomy, and resilience define geopolitical advantage". And Russia's invasion of Ukraine seemed to spark that shift, dozens of sources from across business, investment and government told Reuters. Sven Weizenegger, who heads up the Cyber Innovation Hub - the tech accelerator for the German armed forces, said the war in Ukraine removed a stigma towards working in the defence sector. "Germany has developed a whole new openness towards the issue of security since the invasion," he told the outlet. The country has been shaped by the trauma of Nazi militarism and a strong post-war pacifist ethos that has been reflected in its relatively small and cautious defence sector, Reuters noted. But Germany plans to nearly triple its regular defence budget to around €162 billion ($175 billion) per year by 2029. Much of that money will go into reinventing the nature of warfare, Reuters reported, citing sources. Sources also claimed that Chancellor Friedrich Merz sees artificial intelligence (AI) and start-up technology as key to its defence plans. The German leader is reportedly slashing red tape to connect startups directly to its military. 3 A digital illustration released by Swarm Biotactics shows what they describe as a cyborg cockroach, equipped with a specialized backpack that enables real-time data collection via cameras. SWARM Biotactics/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES Credit: Reuters
Scottish Sun
24-07-2025
- Science
- Scottish Sun
Meet the battle-ready cyborg cockroaches that humans can control for SPY missions
Human operators will be able to control them by zapping their tiny brains with electrical pulses BUGGING OUT Meet the battle-ready cyborg cockroaches that humans can control for SPY missions Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FIRST there were spy bees, now there are battle-ready cockroaches. Technology is changing, and therefore, so is warfare. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 A human-controlled spy cockroach could go on secret spy missions to expose information about enemy positions Credit: SWARM Biotactics 3 The bio-robotic startup secured €10 million in seed funding last month to help get its bugs onto the battlefield Credit: Reuters It might feel plucked out of science fiction, but German military tech company SWARM Biotactics is working on cyborg cockroaches that can spy behind enemy lines. The insects - hailed for being remarkably durable - are equipped with miniature backpacks fitted with cameras and other tools to gather data on enemies in real time. Human operators will be able to control them by zapping their tiny brains with electrical pulses. Each zap allows humans to control the insects' movements remotely, meaning they don't have to enter hostile environments themselves in order to gather information. "Our bio-robots - based on living insects - are equipped with neural stimulation, sensors, and secure communication modules," Swarm Biotactic's CEO Stefan Wilhelm told Reuters. "They can be steered individually or operate autonomously in swarms." For example, a human-controlled spy cockroach could go on secret spy missions to expose information about enemy positions. The bio-robotic startup secured €10 million in seed funding last month that will help get its bugs onto the battlefield. "Conventional systems fail where control is needed most - denied zones, collapsed infrastructure, politically complex terrain," said Wilhelm. "SWARM is the first company building an entirely new category of robotics: biologically integrated, AI-enabled, and mass-deployable systems for persistent intelligence in places no drone or ground robot can reach. Watch terrifying 'terminator' robot dogs with AI-targeted rifles being tested by US Marines "This funding moves us from deep tech to deployment - delivering the infrastructure democracies need to operate more smartly, more safely, and with total tactical awareness.' But SWARM aren't the only ones trying to bio-hack insects. A team of scientists in China claimed they have created the world's lightest mind control device for bees. While the device is strapped to a bee's back, three needles are pierced into the bee's brain. Operators can then send electronic pulses into the bee's brain and command it to fly in whichever direction they want. During tests, published in the Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering earlier this month, the bees obeyed their operator's commands with 90 per cent accuracy. Beyond warfare, mind-controlled bugs could be used to help disaster relief operations. UKRAINE WAR SHIFT Wilhelm believes Europe is entering a decade where "access, autonomy, and resilience define geopolitical advantage". And Russia's invasion of Ukraine seemed to spark that shift, dozens of sources from across business, investment and government told Reuters. Sven Weizenegger, who heads up the Cyber Innovation Hub - the tech accelerator for the German armed forces, said the war in Ukraine removed a stigma towards working in the defence sector. "Germany has developed a whole new openness towards the issue of security since the invasion," he told the outlet. The country has been shaped by the trauma of Nazi militarism and a strong post-war pacifist ethos that has been reflected in its relatively small and cautious defence sector, Reuters noted. But Germany plans to nearly triple its regular defence budget to around €162 billion ($175 billion) per year by 2029. Much of that money will go into reinventing the nature of warfare, Reuters reported, citing sources. Sources also claimed that Chancellor Friedrich Merz sees artificial intelligence (AI) and start-up technology as key to its defence plans. The German leader is reportedly slashing red tape to connect startups directly to its military.
The Sun
24-07-2025
- Science
- The Sun
Meet the battle-ready cyborg cockroaches that humans can control for SPY missions
FIRST there were spy bees, now there are battle-ready cockroaches. Technology is changing, and therefore, so is warfare. 3 3 It might feel plucked out of science fiction, but German military tech company SWARM Biotactics is working on cyborg cockroaches that can spy behind enemy lines. The insects - hailed for being remarkably durable - are equipped with miniature backpacks fitted with cameras and other tools to gather data on enemies in real time. Human operators will be able to control them by zapping their tiny brains with electrical pulses. Each zap allows humans to control the insects' movements remotely, meaning they don't have to enter hostile environments themselves in order to gather information. "Our bio-robots - based on living insects - are equipped with neural stimulation, sensors, and secure communication modules," Swarm Biotactic's CEO Stefan Wilhelm told Reuters. "They can be steered individually or operate autonomously in swarms." For example, a human-controlled spy cockroach could go on secret spy missions to expose information about enemy positions. The bio-robotic startup secured €10 million in seed funding last month that will help get its bugs onto the battlefield. "Conventional systems fail where control is needed most - denied zones, collapsed infrastructure, politically complex terrain," said Wilhelm. "SWARM is the first company building an entirely new category of robotics: biologically integrated, AI-enabled, and mass-deployable systems for persistent intelligence in places no drone or ground robot can reach. Watch terrifying 'terminator' robot dogs with AI-targeted rifles being tested by US Marines "This funding moves us from deep tech to deployment - delivering the infrastructure democracies need to operate more smartly, more safely, and with total tactical awareness.' But SWARM aren't the only ones trying to bio-hack insects. A team of scientists in China claimed they have created the world's lightest mind control device for bees. While the device is strapped to a bee's back, three needles are pierced into the bee's brain. Operators can then send electronic pulses into the bee's brain and command it to fly in whichever direction they want. During tests, published in the Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering earlier this month, the bees obeyed their operator's commands with 90 per cent accuracy. Beyond warfare, mind-controlled bugs could be used to help disaster relief operations. UKRAINE WAR SHIFT Wilhelm believes Europe is entering a decade where "access, autonomy, and resilience define geopolitical advantage". And Russia's invasion of Ukraine seemed to spark that shift, dozens of sources from across business, investment and government told Reuters. Sven Weizenegger, who heads up the Cyber Innovation Hub - the tech accelerator for the German armed forces, said the war in Ukraine removed a stigma towards working in the defence sector. "Germany has developed a whole new openness towards the issue of security since the invasion," he told the outlet. The country has been shaped by the trauma of Nazi militarism and a strong post-war pacifist ethos that has been reflected in its relatively small and cautious defence sector, Reuters noted. But Germany plans to nearly triple its regular defence budget to around €162 billion ($175 billion) per year by 2029. Much of that money will go into reinventing the nature of warfare, Reuters reported, citing sources. Sources also claimed that Chancellor Friedrich Merz sees artificial intelligence (AI) and start-up technology as key to its defence plans. The German leader is reportedly slashing red tape to connect startups directly to its military. 3
Time of India
24-07-2025
- Time of India
Cockroaches in uniform: Germany's warfare plan gets full sci-fi; Bio-Robots and AI in Focus
AI- Representative Image German defence innovation is taking a creepy crawly turn with cyborg cockroaches now part of the battlefield blueprint. As Europe boosts military spending in the wake of the Ukraine war, Germany is pacing its bets on start-ups and artificial intelligence to modernize its arsenal. One standout innovation? living insects turned into surveillance bots. Developed by Swarm Biotactics, these cockroach based bio robots carry miniature backpacks packed with cameras, sensors, and secure communication modules that ensures real times data collection from hostile zone, The Japan News reported. Our bio-robotics, based on living insects, are equipped with neural stimulation, sensors, and secure communication modules," Stefan Wilhelm, CEO of Swarm Biotactics, told Reuters. "They can be steered individually or operate autonomously in swarms. The goal of this project is to provide on ground intelligence from enemy territory without risking human lives. Defence insider say Germany's once cautious military approach is undergoing a rapid transformation. With start up ideas now pouring in-up to 30 linkedin requests a day, according to cyber innovation hub's Sven Weizenegger- Berlin is embracing innovation like never before.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SWARM Biotactics Raised €13M to Advance Bio-Robotics From Lab to Field
KASSEL, Germany & SAN FRANCISCO, June 24, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SWARM Biotactics, developer of bio-robotic systems based on fully controllable living insects for mission-critical operations, has secured €10 million in seed funding, bringing its total raised to €13 million, including a €3 million pre-seed. The round was backed by a consortium of international investors from Europe, the United States, and Australia, including Vertex Ventures US, Possible Ventures, and Capnamic, who was the first investor in the pre-seed round. Several early backers also increased their stakes in the oversubscribed round. UNMATCHED ACCESS FOR CRITICAL MISSIONS SWARM Biotactics is creating a new category of robotics: living, intelligent systems designed for environments where machines can't go—cluttered, denied, and high-risk terrain. Bio-robotic swarms consist of cockroaches equipped with a custom-built backpack for control, sensing, and secure communication—enabling precise navigation and real-time data collection in the most inaccessible places. SWARM delivers highly scalable bio-robotic systems for defense, security, and disaster response. "We're entering a decade where access, autonomy, and resilience define geopolitical advantage," said Stefan Wilhelm, CEO of SWARM Biotactics. "Conventional systems fail where control is needed most—denied zones, collapsed infrastructure, politically complex terrain. SWARM is the first company building an entirely new category of robotics: biologically integrated, AI-enabled, and mass-deployable systems for persistent intelligence in places no drone or ground robot can reach. This funding moves us from deep tech to deployment—delivering the infrastructure democracies need to operate more smartly, more safely, and with total tactical awareness." FROM DEEP TECH R&D TO OPERATIONAL READINESS SWARM will use the new funding to transition from advanced research to field deployment. Priorities include: Launching operational pilots in Europe and North America with defense, national security, and emergency response agencies. Scaling production of proprietary sensor backpacks, neural interfaces, and swarm infrastructure. Expanding its R&D centers and its international go-to-market and engineering hub. Recruiting top talent in insect neurobiology, embedded AI, field robotics, and dual-use system integration. "Our mission is to build a scalable, dual-use intelligence platform that adapts to any terrain, threat, or mission," said Moritz Strube, CTO and co-founder. "This funding round validates the vision—and brings in the right global partners to help us scale." ABOUT SWARM BIOTACTICS Founded in 2024, SWARM Biotactics develops fully controllable bio-robotic systems for defense, national security, disaster response, and industrial inspection. By combining biology with edge AI, swarm intelligence, and secure communications, SWARM delivers real-time data from the world's most inaccessible places. The company is headquartered in Kassel, Germany, with a U.S. subsidiary in San Francisco, California. View source version on Contacts PRESS CONTACTinfo@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
