Remote Controlled Beetles
It all began when DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), USA's agency for emerging technologies decided to create relatively miniature drones that can be easily produced and relatively unnoticeable. This proved surprisingly difficult, as aerodynamics work differently on a smaller scale, and the weight of materials was also a serious obstacle. Eventually, drones that were relatively "successful" were created, but at the cost of having a tiny battery with severe power issues, with some only usable for 3 minutes per charge. The task may have been declared impossible, but nature's tiny insects clearly prove that there must be some way. From there, it wasn't a far leap of logic to attempt controlling the already effective insects of nature.
DARPA decided to pull a national "science fair" of sorts, putting out a public call to all researchers to develop controllable insects that can function as drones. Most researchers decided to work with moths or flies, known for their lightweight efficiency. However, the researchers of “Nanyang Technological University in Singapore” and the “University of California, Berkeley” decided to use the heavier and larger giant flower beetle, as they have sturdy shells and can carry much heavier loads.
The beetles are far more cost-effective as they don’t need many small specially designed parts because the base is already there. They are also much more efficient and versatile because beetles can easily carry sensors and seamlessly switch from flying to crawling. Complicated programming is also unneeded because they already know how to fly. We only need a receiver module, which costs under 10$, and an inexpensive transmitter. The installation only requires knowledge of the muscle and nerve locations, as well as a pair of steady hands.
In emergency situations, like an earthquake or a fire, the beetles can be used to find survivors. They can also be used for low profile flying surveillance and exploring unknown areas.
The researchers stick wires into the beetle’s left and right optical lobes, as well as both of the basalar muscles, one for each wing. Electrical pulses that mimic nerve impulses are used to stimulate the muscles that cause the beetle to fly and allows us to control the speed of flight, as well as when to land. By increasing the speed of either wing, it turns the beetle in the opposite direction.
Unlike a regular drone, stimulation only triggers the beetles to take off, speed up, swerve or land, and does not give the beetle specific instructions on how to operate every muscle. This means that the beetle doesn’t need complicated programming or directions as it knows how to fly by itself. We are only making it conduct actions it already knows how to do. The wires are connected to a receiving device which allows wireless control, as well as a lightweight processor and battery, all contained in a compact module glued with organic beeswax to the beetle’s back. This allows the module to be easily removed from the beetle with no damage. The beetles that undergo this procedure continue to live their full 5-6 month lifespans.
Insects can feel pain, even if they can’t undergo suffering or be emotionally affected. This means that we should avoid damage to their bodies. However, they have no pain receptors in their shell and small holes can be made quite easily and without damage. Insertion of thin wires into the muscle will also have no negative impact, and the beetle will be anesthetized during the procedure. However, similar methods can also be used for many other animals, even humans, and there have already been successful experiments that have been completed on mice. These work on a different principal, but still involve exerting control over other organisms.