Radio-Controlled Cyborg Beetles: A Radio-Frequency System for Insect Neural Flight Control

Abstract

We present the first report of radio control of a cyborg beetle in free-flight. The microsystem (Figs. 1,2) consisted of a radio-frequency receiver assembly, a micro battery and a live giant flower beetle platform (Mecynorhina polyphemus or Mecynorhina torquata). The assembly had six electrode stimulators implanted into the left and right optic lobes, brain, posterior pronotum (counter electrode), right and left basalar flight muscles. Initiation and cessation of flight were accomplished by optic lobe stimulation while muscular stimulation of either right or left basalar flight muscles (referenced to the posterior pronotum electrode) elicited left or right turns, respectively. Flight commands were wirelessly transferred to the beetle-mounted system (running BeetleBrain v1.0 code) via an RF transmitter operated by a laptop running custom software (BeetleCo mmander v1.0) through a USB/Serial interface.