Bio-hybrid drone mimics insects to navigate using smell
Japanese researchers have developed a bio-hybrid drone by combining robotic elements with odor-sensing antennae from silkworm moths.
The bio-hybrid drone drone integrates the agility and precision of robots with biological sensory mechanisms to enhance the drone’s capabilities in navigation, gas sensing, and disaster response. Conventional visual sensors, such as thermal imaging and LiDAR, are affected by dampness, low light, and dust, which can limit their functionality. This is especially pertinent in disaster-stricken areas.
In nature, animals, birds, and insects have an inherent navigation system based on their sense of smell. Bio-hybrid drones that integrate these biological sensory mechanisms with advanced artificial machinery hold significant promise in overcoming the challenges associated with existing robotic technologies.
Researchers led by Associate Professor Daigo Terutsuki from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics, Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Japan, along with Associate Professor Toshiyuki Nakata and Chihiro Fukui from Chiba University, Japan, have used silkworm moth antennae to develop a novel bio-hybrid drone capable of odor sensing and tracking.
Dr. Terutsuki says, “Our team continues to develop bio-hybrid drones that utilise living insect antennae as odor sensor elements. In this research, we strive to incorporate the dynamic movements and mechanisms of living organisms to dramatically enhance the performance of our odor-tracking drones. We initiated this study believing that these advancements will enable more effective odor detection and broaden applications in rescue operations.”
Previously, the researchers developed a bio-hybrid drone equipped with an electroantennography (EAG) sensor based on insect antennae with high sensitivity and specificity. However, its applications were limited by a short detection range of less than two meters. In the current study, the team has enhanced the primary version by further incorporating mechanisms that mimic the biological process in insects. For example, they introduced a “stepped rotation algorithm” that mimics insect pauses during odor sensing, significantly improving detection accuracy. The researchers also redesigned the electrodes and EAG sensor to more effectively accommodate the structure of silkworm moth antennae. The seamless interface between the gain-modulable (responsive to electrical signal intensities) EAG sensor and the insect antennae significantly improved the performance and operability of the system.
Further, the team used a funnel-shaped enclosure to reduce airflow resistance and applied a conductive coating inside the enclosure to minimise noise interference from electrostatic charging. These modifications resulted in superior odor-source sensing under varied environmental conditions and odorant concentrations, with an effective detection range of up to 5 meters.
The odor-sensing bio-hybrid drone could potentially find application in gas leak detection, early fire detection, enhanced public security at airports by detecting hazardous substances like drugs and explosives, and enable better disaster response by improving rescue operations.
“Traditionally, search and rescue efforts have relied on manual visual searches due to the absence of a definitive technology capable of efficiently locating individuals in distress. The advanced bio-hybrid drone developed in this study has the potential to enable responders to locate survivors rapidly by tracking odors, ultimately saving more lives when every second counts.” Dr. Terutsuki concludes.
Image: Researchers from Shinshu University and Chiba University have developed a bio-hybrid drone using odor-sensing antennae from silkworm moths. An electroantennography (EAG) sensor is used to detect odorants. The optimisation of the electrode and enclosure structure in the robot enhanced the odor search range, detection precision, and system performance of the drone, improving its application in diverse environments. Credit: Dr. Daigo Terutsuki from Shinshu University, Japan.
Paper: DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/s44182-025-00020-9
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