Zoborg: On‐Demand Climbing Control for Cyborg Beetles
Abstract Transitioning from horizontal surfaces to vertical walls is crucial for terrestrial robots to navigate complex environments. Replicating such impressive surface transitions in artificial insect‐scale robots has been particularly challenging. Here, innovative control schemes are introduced t...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Advanced Science |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202502095 |
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| author | Lachlan Fitzgerald H. Nhan Le Robbie S. Wilson H. Duoc Nguyen Thanh Nho Do T. Thang Vo‐Doan |
| author_facet | Lachlan Fitzgerald H. Nhan Le Robbie S. Wilson H. Duoc Nguyen Thanh Nho Do T. Thang Vo‐Doan |
| author_sort | Lachlan Fitzgerald |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Transitioning from horizontal surfaces to vertical walls is crucial for terrestrial robots to navigate complex environments. Replicating such impressive surface transitions in artificial insect‐scale robots has been particularly challenging. Here, innovative control schemes are introduced that enable ZoBorg (a cyborg beetle from Zophobas morio) to successfully climb walls from horizontal planes. The flex‐rigid structure, flexible footpads, sharp claws, and embedded sensors of the living insect enable ZoBorg to achieve agile locomotion with exceptional adaptability, all at low power and low cost. ZoBorg crosses low‐profile obstacles (5 and 8 mm steps) with a success rate exceeding 92% in less than one second. Most importantly, electrical stimulation of the elytron enables Zoborg to transition onto vertical walls with a success rate of 71.2% within 5 s. ZoBorg has potential applications for search and rescue missions due to its ability to traverse complex environments by crossing various obstacles, including low‐profile steps, inclines, and vertical walls. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-30e510955c0b4f4f83c08b907b20910f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2198-3844 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Advanced Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-30e510955c0b4f4f83c08b907b20910f2025-08-23T14:14:31ZengWileyAdvanced Science2198-38442025-08-011231n/an/a10.1002/advs.202502095Zoborg: On‐Demand Climbing Control for Cyborg BeetlesLachlan Fitzgerald0H. Nhan Le1Robbie S. Wilson2H. Duoc Nguyen3Thanh Nho Do4T. Thang Vo‐Doan5School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 AustraliaSchool of Mechanical and Mining Engineering The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 AustraliaSchool of the Environment The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 AustraliaSchool of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Nanyang Technological University Singapore Singapore 639798Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering Faculty of Engineering and Tyree Institute of Health Engineering (IHealthE) UNSW Sydney Sydney NSW 2052 AustraliaSchool of Mechanical and Mining Engineering The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 AustraliaAbstract Transitioning from horizontal surfaces to vertical walls is crucial for terrestrial robots to navigate complex environments. Replicating such impressive surface transitions in artificial insect‐scale robots has been particularly challenging. Here, innovative control schemes are introduced that enable ZoBorg (a cyborg beetle from Zophobas morio) to successfully climb walls from horizontal planes. The flex‐rigid structure, flexible footpads, sharp claws, and embedded sensors of the living insect enable ZoBorg to achieve agile locomotion with exceptional adaptability, all at low power and low cost. ZoBorg crosses low‐profile obstacles (5 and 8 mm steps) with a success rate exceeding 92% in less than one second. Most importantly, electrical stimulation of the elytron enables Zoborg to transition onto vertical walls with a success rate of 71.2% within 5 s. ZoBorg has potential applications for search and rescue missions due to its ability to traverse complex environments by crossing various obstacles, including low‐profile steps, inclines, and vertical walls.https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202502095biohybrid robotsclimbingcyborg insectselectrical stimulationinsect‐scale robotszophobas morio |
| spellingShingle | Lachlan Fitzgerald H. Nhan Le Robbie S. Wilson H. Duoc Nguyen Thanh Nho Do T. Thang Vo‐Doan Zoborg: On‐Demand Climbing Control for Cyborg Beetles Advanced Science biohybrid robots climbing cyborg insects electrical stimulation insect‐scale robots zophobas morio |
| title | Zoborg: On‐Demand Climbing Control for Cyborg Beetles |
| title_full | Zoborg: On‐Demand Climbing Control for Cyborg Beetles |
| title_fullStr | Zoborg: On‐Demand Climbing Control for Cyborg Beetles |
| title_full_unstemmed | Zoborg: On‐Demand Climbing Control for Cyborg Beetles |
| title_short | Zoborg: On‐Demand Climbing Control for Cyborg Beetles |
| title_sort | zoborg on demand climbing control for cyborg beetles |
| topic | biohybrid robots climbing cyborg insects electrical stimulation insect‐scale robots zophobas morio |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202502095 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lachlanfitzgerald zoborgondemandclimbingcontrolforcyborgbeetles AT hnhanle zoborgondemandclimbingcontrolforcyborgbeetles AT robbieswilson zoborgondemandclimbingcontrolforcyborgbeetles AT hduocnguyen zoborgondemandclimbingcontrolforcyborgbeetles AT thanhnhodo zoborgondemandclimbingcontrolforcyborgbeetles AT tthangvodoan zoborgondemandclimbingcontrolforcyborgbeetles |