World’s first robotic assembly line developed for mass-producing cyborg cockroaches

Scientists at Nanyang Technological University, in collaboration with Japanese researchers, have developed the world’s first robotic assembly line for mass-producing cyborg cockroaches.

This breakthrough replaces complex manual assembly with standardized, more consistent units, advancing practical applications of insect cyborg swarms in inspections, reconnaissance, and disaster relief, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media. 

The team focused on the large hissing Madagascar cockroach, about 7 cm long, as current electronic components remain too heavy for smaller insects. The assembly line uses a Universal Robot UR3e manipulator, an Intel RealSense depth camera for computer vision, and carbon dioxide anesthesia for the cockroaches. Electronics are mounted on a platform attached to the cockroach’s back, with electrodes inserted near the front legs to stimulate movement.

Each cyborg assembly takes 68 seconds. Tests showed robotic and manual assembly yielded equally effective control. Experiments demonstrated that swarms of cyborg cockroaches can cover areas far faster than individual insects.

This automation marks a significant step toward industrial-scale production, accelerating research and development in AI-driven biomechanical insect technology—a field gaining strategic interest, including from military sectors.

By Sabina Mammadli