Researchers at the University of Queensland have developed remote-controlled giant burrowing cockroaches that could potentially deliver medicines to people trapped beneath disaster rubble. The insects, fitted with electronics and small drug-injection devices, may offer a way to reach casualties in confined spaces where human rescuers or larger robots cannot go.

The team’s “paraborgs” can be directed to turn, change speed and stop for treatment delivery, while different insects could carry cameras, sensors or medical equipment. Tests reported 100% navigation success, a 90% success rate for the injection mechanism, and 95% successful injections when within 15cm of a target; stabilising the cockroaches succeeded 72% of the time. Researchers say deployment in real emergencies could be possible within five to ten years.