麻豆淫院

Researchers at the University of Tsukuba in Japan have invented a method to manipulate the musical scales of cicadas' chirps by using electrical muscle stimulation (EMS). A hybrid biological-electronic speaker was produced using live cicadas controlled through precise voltage, capable of producing variable sound frequencies.

Insect-computer hybrid systems have drawn research attention for their mobility, durability, and energy efficiency. Insect biobots (cyborg insects) have been considered for applications ranging from disaster response to agriculture and surveillance.

Embedded sensors are proposed to enable navigation through confined or unstable environments, such as a beetle-bot searching the narrow spaces of a collapsed building for survivors, bee-botic designs that monitor air quality and pollination patterns, and hi-tech termites that test for chemical contaminants in soil. Surveillance-focused deployments envision insects carrying audio or visual sensors into restricted areas, imagining a true "fly on the wall" scenario.

Communication remains a less explored function of insect biobots, raising the question of whether insects themselves can act as signal transmitters.

In the study titled "Insect-Computer Hybrid Speaker: Speaker using Chirp of the Cicada Controlled by Electrical Muscle Stimulation," as a preprint to arXiv on April 23, 2025, researchers designed an experimental interface to investigate whether the pitch of insect chirps could be manipulated using EMS.

Seven cicadas of the species Graptopsaltria nigrofuscata were captured in Tsukuba, Japan. Male cicadas were selected due to their relatively large body size and no large muscles or internal organs near the tymbal region.

Electrodes were inserted into each cicada's abdomen through the back to stimulate the tymbal muscles, which are responsible for producing chirps by vibrating tymbal plates within the abdominal cavity. Each electrode was connected to a circuit that delivered square-wave electrical signals ranging from A0 to C4 (27.500 Hz to 261.626 Hz). A microphone (SONY ECM-CG601), positioned one centimeter in front of the cicada, recorded the sound produced during stimulation.

Wings were fixed in place to maintain a consistent recording distance. Voltage was gradually increased from 0V to 1V per frequency until chirping was initiated or ceased. This process was repeated across all seven cicadas for each input frequency.

Playback of musical phrases, including Pachelbel's Canon, was conducted to evaluate how well cicada chirps could follow structured musical scales. The performance range varied across specimens. For example, only one cicada produced sound at pitch A2, while two succeeded at C#3.

Chirps generated through electrical stimulation were classified into four waveform types: Correct Frequency Wave (CFW), Half Frequency Wave (HFW), Double Frequency Wave (DFW), and Irregular Frequency Wave (IFW). CFWs were the most consistently produced across tested pitch intervals, corresponding to a voltage range from A0 to F#3. Sequential waveform patterns were observed as voltage increased: first HFW, then CFW, and finally DFW. Under low pitch intervals, HFWs were not produced, while DFWs were absent at higher intervals. The maximum mean frequency achieved across specimens corresponded to pitch C#3.

Cicadas, when subjected to controlled electrical muscle stimulation, demonstrated their potential as low-energy biological sound devices. This capability suggests a role for insect-computer hybrid systems in emergency communication scenarios, particularly in environments where conventional audio equipment or robotics may be limited by energy demands or inaccessible terrain. Energy efficiency and agility were cited as potential advantages for real-world deployment.

漏 2025 Science X Network