Biological hybrid drone uses silkworm moth antenna uses odor navigation

Researchers develop a odor biohybrid drone by combining robotic technology with insects’ bioodor sensors

Traditional drones use vision sensors for navigation. However, environmental conditions such as moisture, low light and dust may hinder their effectiveness, limiting their use in disaster areas. Japanese researchers have developed a new type of biohybrid drone by combining robotic elements with odor sensing antennas from silkworm moths. Their innovation combines the agility and accuracy of robots with biological sensory mechanisms to enhance the applicability of drones in navigation, gas sensing, and disaster response.

Technology advances have led to the development of drones with a variety of applications, including navigation, gasoline sensing, infrastructure and transportation, imaging and disaster response. Conventional navigation systems in drones rely on vision sensors such as thermal imaging and light detection and range (LIDAR). However, environmental conditions such as low light, dust and moisture may impair its function, highlighting the need for more uses of alternatives.

In nature, animals, birds and insects have inherent navigation systems that are based on their sense of smell that can help them find food sources, escape predators and attract potential partners, thereby promoting their overall survival. Insects, especially male moths, can detect windy sex pheromones from a distance, and in some cases, insects can extend to several kilometers through a process called odor source localization.

Biohybrid UAVs that combine these biosensory mechanisms with advanced artificial mechanisms have great hope in overcoming challenges associated with existing robotics technologies.

In this case, a team of researchers led by Daigo Terutsuki, associate professor of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics Technology, School of Textile Sciences and Technology, Shinsho University, Japan, with Associate Professors Toshiyuki Nakata and Fukui Associate Professors. A novel biohybrid drone has been developed using silkworm moth antennas that enable odor sensing and tracking. The study was published online on February 5, 2025 in the journal NPJ Robotics.

Explaining the motivation behind the study, Dr. Terutsuki said: “Our team is continuing to develop biological hybrid drones that use live insect tentacles as odor sensor elements. In this study, we work to combine the organism’s Dynamic motion and mechanisms to greatly improve the performance of odor tracking drones. We launched this study and believe that these advances will enable more effective odor detection and expand applications in rescue operations.”

Previously, researchers developed a biohybrid drone based on a reactive sensor (EAG) sensor with high sensitivity and specificity of insect antennae. However, its application is limited by a short detection range of less than 2 meters. In the current study, the team augments the major version by further combining mechanisms that mimic insect biological processes. During odor tracking, insects stop intermittently to improve search accuracy. However, the lack of such pause in its operations by the robot odor search model may affect its detection range.

To solve this problem, the researchers proposed a “stair rotation algorithm” that mimics insect pauses when odors, thereby significantly improving detection accuracy. They also redesigned the electrodes and EAG sensors to more efficiently accommodate the structure of the silkworm moth antenna. The seamless interface between the gain adjustment of the EAG sensor and insect tentacles (response to electrical signal strength) significantly improves the performance and operability of the system.

Additionally, the team used a funnel-shaped shell to reduce airflow resistance and applied a conductive coating within the shell to minimize noise interference from electrostatic charging. These modifications lead to odor source sensing under different environmental conditions and odor concentrations, with an effective detection range of up to 5 meters.

Odor-sensitive biohybrid drones can revolutionize gas leak detection in critical infrastructure, early fire detection, enhance airports by detecting hazardous substances such as drugs and explosives, such as drugs and explosives. public safety and better catastrophic responses by improving rescue operations.

This technology is particularly useful in geographical areas where natural disasters are more prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes. “Traditionally, search and rescue efforts have relied on manual visual search due to the lack of deterministic technologies that effectively put individuals in trouble. The advanced biohybrid drone developed in this study has the potential to quickly find survivors by tracking odors , ultimately saving more lives at every second of calculations. ” Dr. Terutsuki concluded.