05-04-2025
Singapore tech team uses cyborg cockroaches in Myanmar search efforts
This is the first time in the world such cyborgs have been used in a humanitarian operation. PHOTO: HTX
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In a global first, Singapore has deployed cyborg cockroaches to assist in earthquake rescue efforts in Myanmar following the devastating 7.7-magnitude quake on March 28 that killed over 3,000 people.
Ten insect-robot hybrids, developed by Singapore's Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) in collaboration with Nanyang Technological University and Klass Engineering and Solutions, were sent to Myanmar alongside the Singapore Civil Defence Force's (SCDF) 80-member Operation Lionheart team.
The cockroaches, fitted with infrared cameras and sensors, were deployed at disaster sites in Naypyitaw and Mandalay, including a collapsed hospital.
They are capable of navigating tight spaces under rubble to search for signs of life using remotely controlled electrodes.
Engineers said while the cockroaches have not located survivors yet, they have aided in detailed area scans that are difficult for human or canine teams to access.
'This is the first time such insect-hybrid robots are being used in the field,' said Ong Ka Hing from HTX's Robotics Centre. 'Being here is a humbling experience. We've encountered real technical challenges but also seen the urgency of the situation.'
HTX's Mr Yap Kian Wee recounted emotional encounters with survivors and family members seeking help. 'A man told me his sibling was trapped in the hospital. It really hit home,' he said.
Despite high temperatures, power cuts, and rough terrain, the Singaporean team said they would continue supporting local rescue operations as long as needed.
The cockroaches, sustained with carrots and water, remain functional in the field.
The Myanmar deployment has fast-tracked testing of the cyborgs, originally scheduled for field use from 2026. Engineers say real-time feedback from the mission will shape future rescue robotics.
