A cockroach in a tiny scuba suit sounds like something you would run from, not something you would send into a disaster zone. Yet scientists say this strange little setup could one day help rescue teams search places people and larger robots cannot safely reach.

Researchers from NTU Singapore and Waseda University have developed a flexible diving suit for cyborg cockroaches. The suit lets the insects survive and move underwater, as well as through low-oxygen spaces, for up to three hours.

The study was published in Nature Communications. The goal is to expand how cyborg insects could help after floods, earthquakes or other disasters where rubble, drains and tight spaces can block access.

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How the cyborg cockroach diving suit works

A cyborg cockroach is a living insect fitted with tiny electronics that can guide its movement. Unlike a small artificial robot, it uses its own muscles to walk. That means it needs far less battery power than a robot that depends on motors. However, cockroaches still need air. They breathe through small openings called spiracles. Once submerged, they cannot pull oxygen from water.

That is where the cyborg cockroach diving suit comes in. The suit has an oxygen-generation tank, a flexible waterproof shell and four silicone oxygen tubes. Together, those parts keep water out while sending oxygen directly to the cockroach’s breathing openings.

The oxygen tank is 3D-printed from a clear plastic-like resin. Inside, researchers placed a sponge treated with manganese dioxide. They then added a small amount of diluted hydrogen peroxide. That chemical reaction slowly releases oxygen. From there, the oxygen travels through the suit and into tubes attached to the cockroach’s spiracles. In other words, the insect gets its own tiny oxygen system. The researchers compare it to the tank used by human divers.

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Why scientists turned a cockroach into a rescue robot

The team tested the suit on the Madagascar hissing cockroach. That species is often used in cyborg insect research because it is large, sturdy and wingless. The suit turns the cyborg insect from a land-based crawler into an amphibious rescue robot that can move across dry and wet terrain.

That could help in places where normal robots struggle. A disaster site may include collapsed concrete, standing water, blocked drains and narrow gaps. A small insect-guided system could move through those spaces while future versions carry sensors or cameras. The idea may make your skin crawl. Still, the engineering is impressive. Researchers are using the cockroach’s natural movement and adding a way for it to keep breathing underwater.

What happened when cyborg cockroaches went underwater

With the diving suit, the cyborg cockroaches stayed active underwater for up to three hours. Without the suit, a control cockroach suffocated within about two minutes during testing. The researchers also tested the insects in plastic tunnels that simulated tough rescue conditions. One setup included a carbon dioxide-filled section followed by a water-filled section. The cyborg cockroaches wearing the suit made it through.

The team also tested narrow underwater gaps. With implanted electronics instead of a bulky backpack, the cyborg cockroach moved through a 2-centimeter-high crevice. That is the kind of space where many small robots could get stuck.

How cyborg insects could help search and rescue teams

The biggest takeaway is that rescue robots may not always look like machines. In some cases, they may use a living insect’s body and add technology around it. A cyborg cockroach can crawl through debris, squeeze into tight spaces and use very little power. Add underwater movement, and it becomes more useful in flooded disaster zones.

That could help after heavy rain, earthquakes or infrastructure failures. Future versions could inspect flooded pipes, drains, tunnels or damaged buildings. The researchers are still improving the system. They want to test it in more disaster-style environments, make the suit more durable and add sensors and navigation tools for field use.

What this means to you

You probably will not see cyborg cockroaches crawling around your neighborhood anytime soon. This is still research, not a rescue tool ready for everyday emergency crews.

However, it shows where search technology may be heading. Rescue teams need tools that can reach places humans cannot safely enter. If a small living insect can carry electronics, move through rubble and keep going underwater, it could become part of a larger rescue system.

That could eventually mean faster inspections after floods, better access inside damaged buildings and more options when every minute counts.

Kurt’s key takeaways

A cyborg cockroach in a diving suit sounds wild, but the reason behind it is serious. Disaster zones can be full of tight spaces, toxic air and standing water. Those conditions can stop people, drones and many small robots. This research gives scientists a new way to think about rescue technology. Instead of building every part from scratch, they are using the cockroach’s natural movement and adding the missing piece: underwater breathing. To me, the big question is what happens when this kind of technology gets sensors, cameras and better navigation. That could turn a creepy little crawler into a tool that helps save lives.

Would you be comfortable with cyborg insects being used in search-and-rescue missions if they could help find people faster? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield had been seeking documents from Paramount related to its takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery. Rayfield also asked a state circuit court judge to delay the closing of the deal by 60 days so that his office could review the documents. But according to Deadline and Variety, he’s now dropped his civil investigative demand for the records.

Obviously, Paramount is pleased with Rayfield’s decision to withdraw his request, but the AG’s office isn’t exactly satisfied with the outcome.

Jenny Hansson, communications director for Rayfield, told Deadline that, “Paramount made it clear that they weren’t going to comply with the investigative demand, and that they think they’re above the law. We’re not going to let them waste Oregonians’ resources on these games. We’ve withdrawn the motion to consider our next steps.”

Rayfield specifically was interested in documents relating to Paramount’s lobbying efforts, which were codenamed “Project Warrior.” Paramount is run by David and Larry Ellison, major supporters of Donald Trump who enjoy a cozy relationship with the White House. The President went out of his way during the proceeding to say that Netflix, Paramount’s primary rival for Warner Bros. Discovery, would “pay the consequences” if it didn’t remove Trump critic Susan Rice from its board.

While Oregon’s efforts to stop the merger have stalled, others, including California, New York, and even the UK, are considering moves to block the deal on antitrust grounds. Hollywood has also spoken out in opposition to the merger.

You may already be used to seeing empty robotaxis cruising through city streets. No driver. No passenger. Just a car rolling along as if it has somewhere important to be. Sometimes it does. It may be heading to pick someone up. Other times, it may be driving back to a faraway depot to get cleaned, charged or checked before the next ride. That empty driving has a name: deadhead miles. In other words, the car is using time, power and road space without carrying a paying rider.

Now a Redwood City, California, startup called Aseon Labs wants to bring the depot closer to the robotaxi. The company is building parking-space-sized robotic service pods that can clean, charge, inspect and reset driverless cars closer to where riders actually need them. Aseon calls them modular “reset pods.” But if these boxes start showing up near parking lots, gas stations or busy streets, plenty of people may see them another way: as robotaxi pit stops in a box.

The idea could help cut wasted miles and keep driverless cars moving. However, it also raises a very interesting debate for cities and neighborhoods: where exactly do you put these big boxes?

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What are robotaxi pit stops?

Aseon Labs describes its system as a “depot in a box” for self-driving cars. Instead of sending robotaxis back to large centralized depots outside busy areas, the company wants to place smaller automated pods closer to where riders actually need cars. These pods are roughly the size of a parking space. They are designed to inspect vehicles, clean interiors and charge robotaxis between rides. Aseon also says the pods can handle vehicle reset operations, data synchronization, recalibration and lost-and-found handling.

Think of one as a mini service station for driverless fleets. A robotaxi pulls in, the pod checks the vehicle and gets it ready to go back out. That could make a huge difference for robotaxi companies. A car sitting at a depot is not earning money. A car driving empty across town is also not earning money.

Why robotaxi pit stops could cut empty miles

Robotaxi companies face a tough math problem. The vehicles need to stay on the road when demand is high. Yet every car still needs cleaning, charging and inspection. Right now, much of that work happens at depots. Those depots often sit outside dense city centers because real estate costs less there.

Aseon says fleets may travel 10 to 15 miles each way to reach centralized depots. That can turn a routine reset into a long, empty trip at the exact time a vehicle could be picking up another rider. The company’s goal is to place service pods within roughly one mile of where robotaxis operate. If that works, Aseon says servicing could be up to 15 times closer to the areas where riders are waiting.

How Aseon Labs robotaxi pit stops would work

Aseon’s pods use cameras to inspect robotaxis. Robotic arms clean the interior of the vehicle and retrieve lost items from the cabin. The company also wants the pods to be moveable. That part is important. If one location performs poorly, Aseon could relocate the unit instead of being stuck with a permanent facility.

Aseon says each reset pod is designed to fit within a single parking space and requires no permanent construction. The company also says the pods can be delivered by flatbed truck and become operational within 24 hours. Early versions are expected to have staff nearby. Over time, the company wants the system to operate more autonomously.

The pods could connect to existing power sources through partnerships with EV charging companies. They could also use mobile power, including a propane generator, depending on the location. Aseon says the pods can also integrate with existing DC fast-charging networks, which could help charging operators get more use out of underused stations.

That flexibility may help with rollout. Still, it also opens the door to questions from neighbors, city planners and business owners.

Why robotaxi pit stops could face pushback

If these robotaxi pit stops start showing up across U.S. cities, plenty of people will notice them. You could walk past one on your way to a coffee shop and wonder what it is doing there. Is it a charging station? Is it recording anything? Is it blocking parking? Is it taking up curb space that delivery drivers, cyclists or nearby businesses already fight over?

Those questions are important. City curb space has become some of the most contested space in transportation today. Ride-hailing pickups, delivery trucks, bike lanes, outdoor dining, EV chargers and public transit all compete for the same streets.

Now imagine adding automated robotaxi service boxes to that mix. Even if the pods help reduce empty driving, cities will still need to decide where they belong. A parking lot may make more sense than a residential block. A commercial corridor may work better than a narrow street. In some places, the answer may be no.

Robotaxi pit stops could test city rules

Aseon’s pods are considered temporary structures, according to the company’s plan. That could help avoid a long permitting process and make the units easier to move. However, “temporary” does not mean invisible. If a pod takes up a parking space for weeks or months, neighbors may not care whether it can be moved later. They will care about the space it occupies today.

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Local governments will likely have to weigh the trade-offs. A pod may reduce empty robotaxi trips, which could lower congestion from cars heading back to remote depots. On the other hand, the pod itself becomes a new piece of street infrastructure. That means cities may need rules around placement, noise, power use, appearance and how close these units can sit to homes or storefronts.

What happens when a robot cannot clean the mess?

One smart part of Aseon’s plan is that the pod will not try to solve every problem. The company says its system can use computer vision and AI to detect issues that should go to a human instead. For example, if a camera spots melted chocolate on a seat, the robotic arm may avoid cleaning it because the wrong move could make the stain worse.

At that point, the vehicle could head to a central depot for a person to handle it. That is a good reminder of where this technology stands. Robotaxis may be driverless, but the operation behind them still depends on human judgment.

Aseon Labs robotaxi pit stops are still early

Aseon Labs has raised $10 million in seed funding and plans to build five prototypes. So, this is still an early-stage rollout, not something already popping up in cities across the country. The company has not publicly named signed robotaxi customers yet. However, Aseon says it is talking with autonomous vehicle operators, EV charging network providers and commercial real estate partners. It also says early pilot deployments are starting to take shape.

The business model is also important. Aseon does not plan to simply sell these pods and walk away. Instead, robotaxi companies would use the pods as needed, while Aseon handles deployment, maintenance and daily operation. That could make it easier for robotaxi companies to add service points without building full depots across a city.

For now, these boxes are not suddenly appearing on every corner tomorrow. Still, Aseon’s vision is much bigger than a few test units. The company wants thousands of reset pods across major cities, close enough to keep robotaxis moving without sending them back to distant depots.

What this means to you

If robotaxi services expand in your area, you may not only see more driverless cars. You may also see the support system that keeps them running. That could mean automated pods near shopping centers, transit hubs, parking lots or busy pickup zones.

For riders, this could mean cleaner cars and shorter wait times. For cities, it could mean fewer empty trips back to distant depots.

However, for residents, the trade-off may feel different. You may ask why a robotaxi company gets curb space when parking is already tight. You may also want clear answers about cameras, noise and how long each pod stays in one spot.

Kurt’s key takeaways

I can see why robotaxi companies would love this idea. If a driverless car can get cleaned and charged closer to riders, it wastes less time driving empty across town. However, I can also see the pushback coming fast. You know how hard it can be to find parking in a busy city. Now picture a big automated service box taking up space near your home, office or favorite restaurant. That does not mean the idea is bad. It means cities need to be careful before handing over valuable public space to robotaxi infrastructure. Aseon says its reset pods could cut costs, reduce downtime and keep driverless cars closer to where riders need them. That’s all great, but the big question is still who decides where these boxes go?

Would you be OK with a robotaxi pit stop on your block if it helped cut down on empty driverless cars cruising through your city? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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