15. Hybrid Insect Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (HI MEMS)
Sending a spy behind enemy lines may be one of the most effective methods of gaining valuable information, but it also puts the spy in a vulnerable position. To eliminate this risk and not the spy, DARPA has developed a method that can allow the US military to creep up to 50 meters towards the enemy without detection.
By implanting microchips into insects still in the early stages of metamorphosis, DARPA researchers hope to create a super race of “cyborg beetles.” The insects receive electric signals that manipulate their muscles, allowing them to execute commands from their controllers, including eavesdropping on a target.