(Web Desk) - Scientists in Singapore have developed a unique diving suit that enables Madagascar hissing cockroaches to breathe and remain active underwater for up to three hours.
The innovation was created by a research team led by Professor Hirotaka Sato from the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Nanyang Technological University. The team has previously developed cyborg cockroaches by attaching electrodes to the insects' sensory organs, allowing them to be remotely controlled for use in disaster-response missions, such as locating survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
According to the researchers, the cockroaches' biggest limitation was their inability to survive underwater for extended periods. To overcome this challenge, the team designed a lightweight diving suit using 3D-printed resin.
Instead of carrying a conventional oxygen tank, the suit generates oxygen through a chemical reaction between hydrogen peroxide and manganese dioxide. The oxygen is then delivered directly to the cockroach's breathing openings, known as spiracles.
During laboratory tests, the diving suit performed successfully, allowing the cockroaches to remain active underwater for up to three hours. The insects moved at an average speed of approximately 78.4 millimetres per second, only about 10 millimetres per second slower than their average speed on land.
The researchers believe the technology could be further refined to enhance the capabilities of biohybrid robots for use in flood response, underwater rescue operations, and other emergency situations.