Control of locomotion in ambulatory and airborne insects using implanted thermal microstimulators

This paper describes the use of implanted microthermal stimulators for locomotion control of ambulatory and airborne insects. In the long term, this research is intended to support micro autonomous vehicles. Experiments were performed using both resistive (nickel), and piezoelectrically driven ultrasonic (PZT-5A) thermal stimulators on green june beetles (GJB) (Cotinis nitida) and Madagascar hissing roaches (Gromphadorhina Portentosa). Ultrasonic heating was 2x more power efficient, requiring 330–360 mW of input power to achieve the 43°C pulses necessary for stimulation. Both stimulators demonstrated the feasibility of locomotion control with a success rate of 80% on GJB and 93.5% on the roaches. The microthermal stimulation resulted in average turn angles of 15–18° and 30–45° on GJB and roaches, respectively. Left and right turns were statistically similar.