Researchers at North Carolina State University implanted electrodes in the muscles of moths — Manduca sexta — so they can remote-control their flight. This technique could lead to a new generation of small-sized biobots that can be used for both military and civil purposes.
The electrodes are implanted during the insect’s early metamorphic stages. So they are perfectly compatible with its neuromuscular tissue. Researchers even created this cool magnetic levitation platform where they can accurately follow the moth’s movements.