Bio-hybrid robotics system ‘listens’ to cyborg insects for collaborative control

Researchers at Osaka University created the Insect Synergy Circuit, a wearable control system for Madagascar hissing cockroaches.

It monitors heartbeat, neural activity, and body movement to infer stress or motivation before using ultraviolet light or vibration cues.

A machine-learning model trained on five conditions identified the insects’ state with 93% accuracy.

In maze tests, the system kept cockroaches moving while pausing stimulation when signs of stress or avoidance appeared, improving adaptability and safety for bio-hybrid robots.