Zoborg: On-Demand Climbing Control for Cyborg Beetles.

Lachlan Fitzgerald, H Nhan Le, Robbie S Wilson, H Duoc Nguyen, Thanh Nho Do, T Thang Vo-Doan

Abstract read

In one paragraph

Article in Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

2citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

Underwater Suit-Wearing Cyborg Insect Capable of Hours-Long Diving and Terra-Aqua Travel.Nature communications · 2026
Article
Zoborg: On-Demand Climbing Control for Cyborg Beetles.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2025
Article

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Lachlan FitzgeraldSchool of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.

H Nhan LeSchool of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.

Robbie S WilsonSchool of the Environment, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.

H Duoc NguyenSchool of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore, 639798.

Thanh Nho DoGraduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, and Tyree Institute of Health Engineering (IHealthE), UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.

T Thang Vo-DoanSchool of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5065-5887

Funding

New Staff Research Start-up Fund from UQ Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology and School of Mechanical and Mining EngineeringNSW Health/Cardiovascular Research Capacity Program - Senior and Early-Mid Career Researcher Grants RG242730University of New South Wales PS46197-AUniversity of Queensland NS-2307UQ Faculty of Engineering Architecture and Information Technology and School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Transitioning from horizontal surfaces to vertical walls is crucial for terrestrial robots to navigate complex environments. Replicating such impressive surface transitions in artificial insect-scale robots has been particularly challenging. Here, innovative control schemes are introduced that enable ZoBorg (a cyborg beetle from Zophobas morio) to successfully climb walls from horizontal planes. The flex-rigid structure, flexible footpads, sharp claws, and embedded sensors of the living insect enable ZoBorg to achieve agile locomotion with exceptional adaptability, all at low power and low cost. ZoBorg crosses low-profile obstacles (5 and 8 mm steps) with a success rate exceeding 92% in less than one second. Most importantly, electrical stimulation of the elytron enables Zoborg to transition onto vertical walls with a success rate of 71.2% within 5 s. ZoBorg has potential applications for search and rescue missions due to its ability to traverse complex environments by crossing various obstacles, including low-profile steps, inclines, and vertical walls.

Indexed as

ColeopteraLocomotionRoboticsAnimalsbiohybrid robotsclimbingcyborg insectselectrical stimulationinsect‐scale robotszophobas morio

Identifiers

PMID40472252

DOI10.1002/advs.202502095

PMCPMC12376601

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata

LicenceCC BY

Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.