Cover image via SWARM Biotactics
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A German tech startup is developing AI-powered 'backpacks' to turn live cockroaches into covert surveillance agents
SWARM Biotactics is creating miniature devices mounted on actual Madagascar hissing cockroaches, effectively creating an army of biologically integrated spies.
According to Times of India, the Kassel-based company is backed by over 13 million Euros (approximately RM64 million) in funding.
The project aims to redefine the future of reconnaissance in environments beyond the reach of conventional drones.
The technology involves fitting the insects with ultra-lightweight, AI-enabled backpacks equipped with tiny cameras, environmental sensors, and neural stimulators
These stimulators send low-voltage signals to the cockroach's nervous system, allowing operators to guide their movements remotely or operate autonomously as a swarm.
This allows the cyborg bugs to navigate through rubble, cracks in walls, or other tight spaces, making them ideal for urban warfare, hostage situations, or disaster response.
Unlike mechanical robots, cockroaches are incredibly durable, require no power to move, and can survive in extreme conditions, all while carrying the small technological payload
The initiative is part of Germany's wider effort to integrate cutting-edge tech into its defence innovation ecosystem, similar to the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
Beyond military use, SWARM Biotactics also envisions the technology being used for disaster relief, such as locating survivors in collapsed buildings or detecting chemical hazards.
