Cyborg Insects: Bug or a Feature?

Abstract

Cyborg insects are a major part of the vision of future interactions of the living world and technology, including but not limited to the Internet of Living Things (IoLT). They are crawling or flying insects with additional electronic circuitry allowing remote control of their movement and collection of sensory data. In this critical review, we survey the historical development of cyborg insects engineering, from the first backpacks on insects used for communication and sensing, to different methods of control and actuation of insects’ locomotion. We review the suggested applications of cyborg insects ranging from military use to agriculture, pointing out the problematic connotations of swarms and cyborgs in these contexts. We address the applications and the narratives around engineered insects from the perspective of philosophy, economy, law, and politics. We add perspectives on emancipatory potential of cyborg technology and where the future of it could lie.