Live cockroaches turned into robot swarms for future spy missions

A German company, SWARM Biotactics, is pioneering the development of bio-robotic swarms by transforming live cockroaches into controllable robotic agents equipped with small backpacks. These backpacks contain advanced sensors, neural stimulation, and secure communication modules, enabling precise navigation, real-time data collection, and encrypted short-range communication. The cockroach swarms are designed to operate in environments inaccessible to conventional machines, such as cluttered, denied, or politically complex terrains, offering a new layer of tactical advantage for defense, security, and disaster response missions. The innovation promises to be cost-effective and highly scalable compared to traditional robotic systems, with a low detectability signature that enhances stealth in surveillance operations. SWARM Biotactics recently secured €10 million in seed funding, bringing its total investment to €13 million, supported by international investors from Europe, the US, and Australia. CEO Stefan Wilhelm emphasized that their biologically integrated, AI-enabled systems represent a new category of robotics capable of persistent intelligence gathering