Kenjiro Fukuda, senior researcher at RIKEN's Pioneering Research Division, Waseda University, and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have developed a "cyborg insect" equipped with electronic components, including a power unit that can be recharged with light energy. .
Advances in electronics have led to the integration of organisms and machines, and cyborg insects with behavioral control modules have been proposed for applications such as urban search and rescue, environmental monitoring, and hazardous area inspection, among others.
To wirelessly control the movement of these cyborg insects for long periods of time and acquire environmental data, an energy harvesting device such as a solar cell capable of generating 10 milliwatts (mW) or more is required.However, since the output of a solar cell is proportional to its area, it was difficult to achieve both a size that would not hinder the insect's motility and an output of 10 mW or more.
Therefore, the research group attached a flexible ultra-thin organic solar cell with a thickness of 4 micrometers to the dorsal side of the insect's abdomen in a ``stepping stone structure'' in which adhesive areas and non-adhesive areas are arranged alternately. A cyborg insect capable of communication is realized.The organic solar cell module mounted on the cyborg insect achieved an output of 17.2mW, which could charge the lithium polymer battery and operate the wireless movement control module.
The results of this research are expected to expand the applications of cyborg insects, enabling them to operate for long periods of time and over long distances without worrying about running out of battery as long as the life of the insect lasts.In the future, it is thought that the function of cyborg insects can be further expanded by using a thinner control circuit and combining it with other components such as sensors.
Paper information:[npj Flexible Electronics] Integration of body-mounted ultrasoft organic solar cells on cyborg insects with intact mobility
