When it comes to the future of emergency response systems, scientists believe that trapped victims can be tracked down under fallen debris using the clever, little cockroach.

Cockroaches are often seen as pests however, they have the uncanny ability to squeeze through cracks with their flat bodies that can shrink to one fourth of their normal size yet travel and scamper away quickly from danger. Cockroaches can also withstand intense crushing weight of 900 times their body weight, without feeling any pain. This can be compared to a 200 pound human being pounded by 90 tons on the head.

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The incredible survival skills of the cockroach appealed to scientists as they have developed a new mini robot that can mimic its strength and agility.

Swarms of futuristic robotic roaches can be attached with cameras and microphones and other sensors as well to be used in disaster response in the event of earthquakes and other disasters, where these tiny robots can squeeze through the smallest cracks. These scampering robots can also signal rescuers if the debris pile is stable enough to extract victims.

According to co-author of the study, Robert Full from the University of California, Berkeley, cockroaches have the crazy ability to go anywhere and even if humans find them revolting, they can always tell us something new. 

The roach bot prototype can fit into the palm of a hand, which is known as CRAM or  Compressible Robot with Articulated Mechanisms, appearing to be a tiny armadillo, that measures 20 times the size of an actual cockroach modeled after it, making it cheap to make. 

According to Harvard robotics researcher, co-author of the study, Kaushik Jayaram, the most challenging part of developing this robot is its design but with the use of commercial electronics and motors, and cardboard, polyester and origami skills, the researchers were able to create something in about 30 minutes.

Jayaram claims that the prototype is estimated to cost US $100 and when if it is already mass produced along with sensors and additional equipment, the robots can cost less than $10 each.

Engineers have already attempted to create disaster response robots that can fit into cracks and tight passage ways that they have taken inspiration from soft animals like worms, slugs and even octopuses. However, Full says that the humble cockroach has already been studied in the field of robotics for its amazing survival skills, that has crucial advantages like withstanding extreme weight and speed.

This new study is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.