China Pioneers Cyborg Bees for Directed Flight in Reconnaissance
Brain implants allow remote control of bees for military and disaster applications
Chinese researchers at the Beijing Institute of Technology, led by Professor Zhao Jieliang, have developed the world’s lightest brain controller at 74 milligrams—roughly a salt pinch’s weight. This device straps to a worker bee’s back and uses three needles to pierce the brain, sending electric pulses to the optical lobe for directed flight. Tests showed 90% success in obedience.
These hybrid insects could aid military scouting or disaster searches in inaccessible spots. Fitted with cameras, sensors, or microphones, they transmit data while slipping through tight areas unnoticed, underscoring concerns over China’s edge in dual-use innovations amid international rivalries.
The team stated in their June 11 paper in the Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering: “Insect-based robots inherit the superior mobility, camouflage capabilities and environmental adaptability of their biological hosts. Compared to synthetic alternatives, they demonstrate enhanced stealth and extended operational endurance, making them invaluable for covert reconnaissance in scenarios such as urban combat, counterterrorism and narcotics interdiction, as well as critical disaster relief operations.”
Previous efforts include miniaturized beetle backpacks controlled via infrared and Bluetooth signals. Singapore made heavier cockroach versions that were deployed for Myanmar’s March 28 earthquake rescue operations following the 7.7-magnitude disaster. The U.S. and Japan are competing in cyborg insect development.
Challenges include short battery life—larger ones overload bees—and species-specific adaptations. China pushes miniaturization further, as seen in June’s mosquito-sized drones unveiled by the National University of Defense Technology.
This story originally appeared on The Telegraph.