Cockroaches as a war assistant: new military technology enthusiastic!

Cockroaches as a war assistant: new military technology enthusiastic!

Köln, Deutschland - Swark Biotactics, a start-up founded in 2024, attracts the interest of a global consortium of investors with his innovative idea to use cockroaches for military purposes. The company has been able to win capital providers such as Vertex Ventures from the USA, Possible Ventures from Munich and Capnamic from Cologne. Capnamic in particular has been invested in the company since 2023 and Olafs Jacobi, co -founder of Capnamic, emphasizes that the geopolitical situation favors timing for such investments because interest in new defense technologies is growing.

The main goal of Swark Biotactics is the development of remote-controlled cockroaches that are equipped with mini backpacks. These backpacks contain sensors, cameras and control technologies to use the insects for educational and rescue operations in difficult to access terrain or rubble fields. The cockroaches can be precisely controlled via neural interfaces, which opens up exceptional possible uses, such as building scanning and target person identification.

secret developments and military interest

Although the exact activities in the Kassel laboratory are kept secret by Swarm Biotactics, it is known that the technology is already evaluated for military purposes. The Cyber ​​Innovation Hub of the Bundeswehr plays an important role here. Sven Weizenegger, head of the Cyber ​​Innovation Hub, explains that various operational scenarios are checked and the first field tests are prepared. In 2022, investments in defense technologies in Germany rose by 76 %, and the tendency shows an ongoing increase.

The interest in AI technologies in the military is more than ever because they produce fundamental changes in warfare. These technologies enable faster analyzes of complex data and support military decisions. The unmanned "Saildrone Explorer" unmanned ship, which is tested by the US Navy, is an example of the use of AI to improve the Enlightenment. Experts emphasize the need for automatic information processing, especially after the abrupt developments in the Middle East, where, for example, AI-based systems were criticized after the terrorist attack on Israel.

artificial intelligence and their risks

With the increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in military applications, serious ethical and legal challenges also arise. While AI systems can increase the speed of reaction and precision and reduce human errors, there is also a risk of uncontrolled autonomous systems. Non -governmental organizations urge a ban on fully autonomous weapons systems, while governments are looking for regulatory options. This problem is particularly relevant in the context of international efforts that check the use of AI weapons within the framework of humanitarian principles.

The discussion about autonomous weapon systems is increasing, and former US general staff chief Mark Milley emphasized that the last decision on the use of such systems must remain in humans. The market for military robots rose to around $ 14 billion in 2019 and will be estimated to overcome both technical and ethical hurdles to $ 25 billion, which underlines urgency. The progress in swarm technology and the potential of mechanical learning require a responsible consideration of the future role of AI in the military.

Overall, the development of companies such as Swarm Biotactics shows that innovative approaches to the military application of technologies bring about both opportunities and challenges. The way we use technology in warfare is about a paradigm shift, the effects of which will be decisive in the coming years.