A group of Chinese researchers have confirmed the development of an insect-scale microbot, naming it the electronic cockroach, according to a research article recently published in the journal Nature Communications.

Described as highly agile and robust, the robot weighs just over 1 gram and measures only 2 centimeters in length. It can fit into and move around in confined spaces.

Notably, the electronic cockroach displays a resilience similar to that of its eponymous insect, as it can bear an external force of 60 kilograms and remain undamaged.

The research article reports that the tiny robot can achieve a forward speed of 4.8 body lengths per second and a turning speed of 280 degrees per second – resulting in outstanding maneuverability that had previously only been achieved in multiply actuated microbots.

The robot is made of flexible materials, said Wu Yichuan, corresponding author of the research article and an associate professor at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), located in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. Its integrated components were selected for their durability and resistance to deformation.

The structure of the robot serves as a flexible exoskeleton, endowing it with strong robustness, Wu explained. When subjected to external forces, it can quickly fold to protect its vital components from damage and rapidly return to its original state once the force is removed.

Stacked up against similar bots, the electronic cockroach has the distinct advantage of being able to flexibly control the shape, direction and inclination angle of the end-of-leg movement trajectory by simply adjusting the frequency of a single actuator, said Peng Bei, a professor at the UESTC.

In addition, it can function as an amphibious robot capable of moving both on land and in water. When in water, its four legs transform into paddles.

The electronic cockroach promises great potential in scenarios such as disaster search and rescue as well as pipeline inspection and operations in confined and narrow spaces. However, several key technical challenges still need to be overcome before it can be truly put into practice.

The lithium battery attached to the microbot can only sustain about 20 minutes of operation, which greatly restricts its actual working capability, said Wu.