We demonstrated the remote control of insects in free flight via an implantable radio-equipped miniature neural stimulating system. The pronotum mounted system consisted of neural stimulators, muscular stimulators, a radio transceiver-equipped microcontroller and a microbattery. Flight initiation, cessation and elevation control were accomplished through neural stimulus of the brain which elicited, suppressed or modulated wing oscillation. Turns were triggered through the direct muscular stimulus of either of the basalar muscles. We characterized the response times, success rates, and free-flight trajectories elicited by our neural control systems in remotely controlled beetles. We believe this type of technology will open the door to in-flight perturbation and recording of insect flight responses.

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 vl.0 code) via an RF transmitter operated by a laptop running custom software (BeetleCo mmander vl.0) through a USB/Serial interface.