This post is also available in:
עברית (Hebrew)
A German technology firm has unveiled a biologically integrated surveillance platform that turns living cockroaches into cyborg scouts capable of operating in areas where conventional drones and ground robots often fail. Designed for military, security, and disaster-response applications, these insect-based systems aim to provide intelligence gathering in cluttered, contested, or otherwise inaccessible terrain.
At the core of the innovation is a lightweight, modular backpack mounted on live cockroaches. The device includes components for neural stimulation, navigation control, encrypted short-range communication, and sensor-based data collection, according to Reuters. The result is a compact, low-profile bio-robotic unit capable of maneuvering in environments that are either physically too constrained for traditional robotic systems.
The technology, developed by SWARM Biotactics, uses swarm intelligence and AI to enable coordinated or autonomous operation. According to the company, the system is designed to deliver persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) in high-risk zones, including collapsed buildings, tunnel systems, and denied areas.
Unlike mechanical robots, these biologically enhanced systems offer a unique advantage: they blend into the environment, generate almost no detectable signature, and can be deployed at scale due to their low production and operational cost.
One of the most significant aspects of the system is the payload design. The backpack’s compact architecture allows each insect to act as an independent mobile sensor platform. With the ability to move silently and transmit real-time encrypted data, each cyborg becomes a stealth intelligence-gathering node.
The concept may sound unconventional, but the approach has drawn serious attention. In June, SWARM Biotactics raised €10 million in seed funding, bringing its total investment to €13 million. The round was led by a mix of global investors, suggesting growing interest in biologically integrated robotics for defense and security applications.
While still in early deployment phases, the company’s direction indicates a shift toward leveraging natural mobility through bio-robotic augmentation—offering new operational capabilities for complex environments where traditional tools reach their limits.
