Cyborg insect repeatable self-righting locomotion assistance using bio-inspired 3D printed artificial limb

Abstract

Cyborg insects have emerged as a promising solution for rescue missions, owing to their distinctive and advantageous mobility characteristics. These insects are outfitted with electronic backpacks affixed to their anatomical structures, which endow them with imperative communication, sensing, and control capabilities essential for effecting survivor retrieval. Nevertheless, the attachment of supplementary loads to the insect’s body can exert adverse effects on their intrinsic self-righting locomotion when confronted with fall or shock scenarios. To address this challenge, the present study introduces a bio-inspired 3D-printed artificial limb that serves to facilitate the maneuverability of cyborg insects amidst unpredictable conditions. Drawing inspiration from the natural self-righting motion exhibited by Coccinellidae, we have successfully identified a solution that can be transferred to the electronic backpack utilized by G. portentosa. Incorporation of the bio-inspired artificial wing-like limb has notably enabled the cyborg insect to achieve a remarkable tilting angle of 112°, thereby significantly amplifying the success ratio of self-righting under conditions closely emulating those prevalent in disaster areas. Moreover, we have replicated the expansion and contraction kinematics to ensure seamless motion progression within confined spaces. Importantly, the fabricated device proffered in this study has been meticulously designed for facile reproducibility employing commonly available tools, thereby serving as an inspirational catalyst for fellow researchers engaged in the advancement of 3D-printed limb development aimed at expanding the functional capacities of cyborg insects.