Latest news with #ChineseJournalofMechanicalEngineering
Economic Times
14 hours ago
- Science
- Economic Times
China building massive army of cyborgs
Chinese researchers created the first cyborg bee using a 74-milligram brain controller, marking a significant leap in cyborg technology for military and disaster applications China unveils remote-controlled cyborg bee with lightweight brain chip Researchers at the Beijing Institute of Technology have built the world's lightest insect brain controller, enabling full remote control over a live bee's movements. Weighing just 74 milligrams, lighter than the nectar loads bees typically carry, the device represents a major advancement in cyborg technology. The controller, mounted on the bee's back, pierces the insect's brain using three ultra-fine needles and delivers targeted electronic pulses. These pulses simulate sensory input, effectively guiding the insect to turn, advance, or retreat. In controlled tests, the bees responded to commands with a 90 per cent success rate. Also read: China camouflaging its super tanks in Beijing? After Bohai sea monster, mystery vehicles raise expectation According to the team's peer-reviewed study published in the Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering on June 11, the cyborg bee holds potential applications in disaster relief and military operations. 'Insect-based robots inherit the superior mobility, camouflage capabilities and environmental adaptability of their biological hosts,' wrote Professor Zhao Jieliang and colleagues. '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.'Cyborg bee outperforms earlier insect controllersPrevious efforts in cyborg technology produced heavier controllers for slower insects. A prior model developed in Singapore, which controlled beetles and cockroaches, weighed three times more than the new Chinese system. Those insects could crawl but suffered from fatigue and had limited contrast, bees offer longer endurance and higher mobility. Capable of flying up to 5 kilometers without rest and carrying payloads equivalent to 80 per cent of their body weight, bees are well-suited for such applications. Also read: The coder 'village' at heart of China's latest AI frenzy Zhao's team constructed their controller by printing microelectronic circuits on polymer film. The film, as thin and flexible as insect wings, contains numerous components including an infrared system was tested using nine distinct pulse settings. Researchers first analyzed bee wing movement and cockroach turning behavior, then matched electrical signals to corresponding motor responses. As a result, they achieved high-precision control: bees banked in flight while cockroaches followed straight paths with minimal limitations persist. Bees currently require wired power, and cockroaches show signs of fatigue after 10 pulses. Additionally, the same signal may provoke inconsistent responses across insect species. China advances in cyborg tech race amid global competition The development marks a significant milestone in China's push to dominate cyborg robotics. Historically, the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) led the field, with Japan making substantial progress as well. China's recent advancements, however, signal a by robust state investment and a growing electronics manufacturing base, Chinese research institutions are setting new records in lightweight cyborg the breakthrough, technical challenges remain. A long-lasting battery still weighs around 600 milligrams, far too heavy for bee flight. Additionally, the current device cannot control leg or belly movement, limiting functionality.'In future research, precision and repeatability of insect behaviour control will be enhanced by optimising stimulation signals and control techniques,' Zhao's team wrote. 'Concurrently expanding functional modules of the control backpack will improve environmental perception capabilities of insect-based robots, advancing their deployment in complex operational settings such as reconnaissance and detection missions.' Also read: Canada's security under threat as CSIS uncovers Chinese spy targeting government secrets The next phase of development will likely focus on reducing power consumption, enhancing signal precision, and integrating environmental sensors to expand operational capabilities.
Time of India
a day ago
- Science
- Time of India
China building massive army of cyborgs
China unveils remote-controlled cyborg bee with lightweight brain chip Researchers at the Beijing Institute of Technology have built the world's lightest insect brain controller, enabling full remote control over a live bee's movements. Weighing just 74 milligrams, lighter than the nectar loads bees typically carry, the device represents a major advancement in cyborg technology. The controller, mounted on the bee's back, pierces the insect's brain using three ultra-fine needles and delivers targeted electronic pulses. These pulses simulate sensory input, effectively guiding the insect to turn, advance, or retreat. In controlled tests, the bees responded to commands with a 90 per cent success rate. Also read: China camouflaging its super tanks in Beijing? After Bohai sea monster, mystery vehicles raise expectation According to the team's peer-reviewed study published in the Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering on June 11, the cyborg bee holds potential applications in disaster relief and military operations. Live Events 'Insect-based robots inherit the superior mobility, camouflage capabilities and environmental adaptability of their biological hosts,' wrote Professor Zhao Jieliang and colleagues. '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.' Cyborg bee outperforms earlier insect controllers Previous efforts in cyborg technology produced heavier controllers for slower insects. A prior model developed in Singapore, which controlled beetles and cockroaches, weighed three times more than the new Chinese system. Those insects could crawl but suffered from fatigue and had limited range. In contrast, bees offer longer endurance and higher mobility. Capable of flying up to 5 kilometers without rest and carrying payloads equivalent to 80 per cent of their body weight, bees are well-suited for such applications. Also read: The coder 'village' at heart of China's latest AI frenzy Zhao's team constructed their controller by printing microelectronic circuits on polymer film. The film, as thin and flexible as insect wings, contains numerous components including an infrared receiver. The system was tested using nine distinct pulse settings. Researchers first analyzed bee wing movement and cockroach turning behavior, then matched electrical signals to corresponding motor responses. As a result, they achieved high-precision control: bees banked in flight while cockroaches followed straight paths with minimal deviation. However, limitations persist. Bees currently require wired power, and cockroaches show signs of fatigue after 10 pulses. Additionally, the same signal may provoke inconsistent responses across insect species. China advances in cyborg tech race amid global competition The development marks a significant milestone in China's push to dominate cyborg robotics. Historically, the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) led the field, with Japan making substantial progress as well. China's recent advancements, however, signal a shift. Backed by robust state investment and a growing electronics manufacturing base, Chinese research institutions are setting new records in lightweight cyborg hardware. Despite the breakthrough, technical challenges remain. A long-lasting battery still weighs around 600 milligrams, far too heavy for bee flight. Additionally, the current device cannot control leg or belly movement, limiting functionality. 'In future research, precision and repeatability of insect behaviour control will be enhanced by optimising stimulation signals and control techniques,' Zhao's team wrote. 'Concurrently expanding functional modules of the control backpack will improve environmental perception capabilities of insect-based robots, advancing their deployment in complex operational settings such as reconnaissance and detection missions.' Also read: Canada's security under threat as CSIS uncovers Chinese spy targeting government secrets The next phase of development will likely focus on reducing power consumption, enhancing signal precision, and integrating environmental sensors to expand operational capabilities.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Science
- Daily Mirror
China develops cyborg bees to find disaster survivors
Controllers which weigh less than a pinch of salt are strapped to the back of a worker bee and connected to the insect's brain through small needles in Chinese scientists'' bid to turn bees into cyborgs for special missions It sounds like science fiction but it's become science fact. Chinese experts have created the first 'cyborg bee'. Insects are fitted with abrain controller and receive in flight commands via tiny eclectic pulses. According to the Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering, the development opens up the possibility of bees serving as military scouts. But the use of the animal kingdom by the military is nothing new. From the Egyptian pharaoh Ramses going into battle with his pet lion to a US project which planned bomb carrying bats our four legged and feathered friends have fought - and died - alongside humans for centuries. Dogs Our canine friends have been used for decades by the military in a variety of roles. Thanks to their keen smell, they can locate mines and concealed IEDs - they were regularly used in Afghanistan - and have played vital roles in search and rescue operations being sent out into No Man's Land during WW1 to wounded men. During WW11 dogs were parachuted behind enemy lines to accompany D Day troops. Others were employed on the Home Front to find people buried under rubble after bombing raids. Among the most famous is Rip, a terrier, who is credited with saving the lives of more than 100 people and was awarded the Dickin Medal for bravery in 1945. Horses and camels When WW1 broke out both sides in the combat had large cavalry and horse and camel mounted troops were sent into battle. nHorses were also used to pull ambulances and evacuate wounded men, particularly when vehicles couldn't get through mud-laden roads and battlefields. In the desert, camels could carry two injured men at a time - one either side of its hump. In 2014 a horse called Warrior was posthumously awarded the Dickin Medal after serving the entire campaign and being nicknamed the 'horse they couldn't kill' by Tommies. Mice and canaries Poisonous gas was a real threat to troops so canaries and mice, often housed in cages in the trenches, were kept by WW1 soldiers. Their reaction - and death - was an early warning sign of the presence of toxic fumes. Dolphins Both Russian and US navies have experimented with the use of marine animals, training them to rescue lost naval swimmers, guard ships against enemy divers, locate mines and help recover lost equipment on the sea bed. While dolphins are often acknowledged for their intelligence, seals and sea lions have also been deployed. Whales In 2019, a Beluga whale was found off the coast of Norway wearing a harness labeled Equipment of St. Petersburg . This led to speculation he had been trained by the Russian Navy as a 'spy'. The latest thinking is that the whale, called Hvaldimir, did belong to the military and was being trained to guard a Russian naval base in the Arctic Circle. He had, in fact, abandoned his duties and had swam off seeking freedom. Pigeons These feathery messengers were trained to carry information particularly in WW1 when other forms of communication were difficult. Their role was deemed so crucial that anyone caught killing a pigeon could be imprisoned or fined. The birds were also used in surveillance with the CIA attempting to use pigeon cameras'. A CIA pigeon camera dating from the 1970s is displayed in the CIA Museum in Virginia. Elephants Two circus elephants, Many and Kiri, were used during WW11 in Germany to clear wreckage in the aftermath of Allied bombing raids. Using their huge strength to move debris in order to rebuild the nation, the pair, who had performed in the big top in Hamburg, carried on their work after the war. Both died in the 1960s. Elephants were also used to carry ammunition in the Far East conflict. Cats Ships' cats have long been used in the Royal Navy to control vermin on ships and as acting as mascots. Black and white puss Simon of HMS Amethyst received the Dickin Medal in 1949 after surviving injuries from an artillery shell, raising morale - and killing off a rat infestation on board.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Science
- The Irish Sun
China creates cyborg BEES controlling their minds and every movement for secret spy missions
A TEAM of scientists claim to have created the world's lightest mind control device - for bees. The tiny brain controller weighs just 74milligrams, which researchers say is lighter than a sack of nectar typically carried by a bee. 1 The team behind the new technology believe swarms of mind-controlled insects could scout areas and help disaster relief operations Credit: Getty The team from the Beijing Institute of Technology, led by Professor Zhao Jieliang, said the system wires straight into the insects' brains. While the device is strapped to a bee's back, three needles are pierced into the bee's brain. Operators can then send electronic pulses into the bee's brain and command it to fly in whichever direction they want. During tests, published in the Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering, the bees obeyed their operator's commands with 90 per cent accuracy. It's similar to the so-called "zombie" fungus, It's this fungus that was famously used as the premise for the zombie virus in the popular 'The Last of Us' franchise. The sci-fi-like system, first reported by the , printed the circuits onto polymer film - ultra-thin and flexible films that are used inside electronics. The team behind the new technology believe swarms of mind-controlled insects could scout areas and help disaster relief operations . Most read in Tech However, they may also usher in a new type of surveillance state where every insect is potentially a spy. 'Insect-based robots inherit the superior mobility, camouflage capabilities, and environmental adaptability of their biological hosts,' Zhao and his colleagues wrote. They added: '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." Previously, the lightest bug cyborg controller developed in Singapore was triple the weight. The device could command beetles and roaches - but the extra weight meant they became tired quickly. With a more lightweight device, Zhao and his team believe they can better serve as military scouts.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Cyborg bees to be Chinese military scouts
Credit: Switch TV News Scientists in China are turning bees into cyborgs by inserting controllers into their brains and deciding where they should fly. The bees – part insect, part machine – could serve as military scouts or be used to search for survivors following a natural disaster. Zhao Jieliang, a professor at the Beijing Institute of Technology, and his team recently developed the world's lightest brain controller – weighing only 74 milligrams, or less than a pinch of salt. The device is strapped to the back of a worker bee and pierces its brain with three needles to instruct it to fly in specific directions. Based on the tests conducted by Prof Zhao and his team, the device worked nine times out of 10 and the bees obeyed the instructions. With this type of technology, the scientists believe that 'cyborg bees' can be used in covert operations or in missions in locations inaccessible to humans. The micro devices can be equipped with cameras, listening devices and sensors that allow the insects to collect and record information, which can then be relayed back to their operator. Given their small size, they could also be used for discreet military or security operations as they would be able to crawl through small spaces that humans and larger robots wouldn't be able to reach and do so without arousing suspicion. 'Insect-based robots inherit the superior mobility, camouflage capabilities and environmental adaptability of their biological hosts,' Prof Zhao and his colleagues wrote in their paper, which was published in the Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering on June 11. '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,' they wrote. Earlier reports on this research showed scientists outfitting other insects, such as beetles, with microchips and wiring, which they would use to control the bug's movement with infrared rays and Bluetooth signals. One of the 'backpacks' that the scientists had developed weighed only 23mg, nearly a third of what the cyborg bees carry. Scientists in Singapore have also developed miniature cyborg controllers, but these were bigger and heavier. These devices, however, were strapped to cockroaches, which were used to help the search and rescue efforts following Myanmar's 7.7 magnitude earthquake in March. Several other countries, including the US and Japan, are also racing to create cyborg insects. While Prof Zhao's team has made great strides in advancing the technology, challenges remain. For one, the current batteries aren't able to last very long, but any larger and the packs would be too heavy for the bees to carry. The same device cannot easily be used on different insects as each responds to signals on different parts of their bodies. China has been working to miniaturise its technology in other fields, with the country unveiling mosquito-sized drones in June as well. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
