3D Printed Diving Suit Enables Cyborg Cockroaches to Explore Underwater

A collaborative effort between Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) and Waseda University in Japan has resulted in the creation of a novel 3D printed diving suit for cyborg cockroaches. This innovative biohybrid system enables the insects to remain submerged and functional for up to three hours, while equipped with electronic backpacks.

The research, published in Nature Communications, focuses on augmenting living insects with lightweight electronics rather than building entirely robotic counterparts. These cyborg cockroaches are guided by researchers using wireless controls, with the system gently steering the insect while leveraging its natural navigation and obstacle-avoidance capabilities.

The core of the underwater capability is a custom-designed miniature diving suit. This wearable device traps a pocket of air around the cockroach's spiracles (breathing openings) and incorporates a tiny, 10x10 millimeter oxygen-generation tank. Unlike systems relying on a limited oxygen supply, this tank produces oxygen electrochemically, continuously replenishing the air pocket.

3D printing was crucial in fabricating the precise, miniature components of the diving suit, including the oxygen-generation tank and spiracle connectors. These parts, along with a flexible waterproof shell and silicone tubing, form the complete wearable system. Experiments demonstrated that the cyborg cockroaches could successfully navigate underwater environments, including simulated flooded passages, with only a marginal decrease in movement speed compared to their terrestrial performance, significantly extending their operational time from minutes to hours.