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SYDNEY: A swarm of giant cockroaches may sound like the stuff of nightmares, but Australian researchers say the insects could one day be used by search-and-rescue teams to deliver lifesaving drugs to people trapped after disasters.
Scientists from the University of Queensland and the University of New South Wales have developed paramedic cyborg cockroaches, dubbed “paraborgs”, equipped with miniature injection devices and cameras.
They hope the insects could help keep victims of earthquakes and building collapses alive by providing basic medical assistance in narrow, debris-filled spaces before rescuers arrive.
“A lot of people might not like the sight of a giant cockroach scurrying towards them, but if you’re trapped in rubble or stuck in a cave and need help, it could make a real difference between life and death,” said PhD candidate Hai Nhan Le, co-author of the study published in the journal Advanced Science.
