Researchers at Beijing Institute of Technology, led by Professor Zhao Jieliang, have developed a 74-milligram electronic device that can modulate bee behavior using electrical stimulation of sensory organs, achieving up to 90% directional control in lab tests.
Key Features of Device
- Weight: 74 milligrams – world’s lightest insect behavior modulator.
- Function: Stimulates sensory organs (optic lobes and antennae), not the brain itself.
- Electrode Placement:
- Two electrodes on bilateral optic lobes
- One ground electrode
- Backpack-Style: Worn on bee’s back and attached with thin copper wires
- Behavioral Influence: Triggers direction commands (left, right, forward, backward)
- Success Rate: Bees followed commands in 9 out of 10 trials
Important Technical Limitations
| Parameter | Detail |
| Autonomy | Not autonomous; needs external wired power |
| Battery System Weight | 674 mg (too heavy for bee flight; bees weigh ~100 mg) |
| Flight Control | No actual flying; only walking bees on flat surface were tested |
| Stimulation Area | Only optic lobes; not consciousness or higher-order brain areas |
Not Actual Mind Control
- Misleading term: The system does not control consciousness or decision-making.
- It simulates natural sensory responses, especially visual cues via electrical pulses.
Potential Applications (As per Researchers)
- High-stealth reconnaissance
- Precision military operations
- Surveillance
These remain purely theoretical due to the current limitations in autonomy and weight.
Publication Details
- Research published in: Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering
- Title: “Insect Trajectory Modulation Technology Based on Electrical Stimulation of Sensory Organs”
- Conducted by: Zhao Jieliang’s team, Beijing Institute of Technology
Significance
- Science & Tech Innovation: Breakthrough in biological robotics / biorobotics
- Ethical Concerns: Raises debates on use of insects for military purposes
- Defense and Surveillance Implications: Not yet viable due to current technological limitations
- Terminology Note: “Insect cyborgs” – refers to hybrid biological-electronic control systems
- Bees’ Importance in Nature: Crucial for pollination, biodiversity conservation, and food security.
- China’s AI and Biotech Advances: Reflects China’s rising dominance in frontier tech (AI, quantum, biotechnology)