Cyborg beetle: Thrust control of free flying beetle via a miniature wireless neuromuscular stimulator

We demonstrate free-flight thrust control of the cyborg beetle which consisted of a living beetle platform (Mecynorrhina torquata), a microcomputer backpack (neuromuscular electrical stimulator) and a micro battery. A pair of thin wire electrodes coming from outputs of the backpack was implanted into the left or right subalar muscle, a major flight muscle of the beetle. The implanted muscle was stimulated in free-flight on demand when the commands sent to the backpack wirelessly by custom software running on the operator laptop. By varying the stimulation frequency, we were able to grade the induced thrust for decelerating the beetle in the air. The achievement of free-flight thrust control would open a new realm of flight control to further complex maneuver.