Future models will be able to camouflage themselves, spy on people with portable cameras and carry out

Move over James Bond, your job is under threat from an army of robo-spies that look and move like cockroaches.

Researchers have created insect bots, inspired by the Blaberus giganteus species of roach, capable of scanning rooms and tracking their surroundings.

Fitted with sensors, these mechanical bugs can cover 12 inches (31cm) a second and the technology has already piqued the interest of the Russian military.

Researchers have created a robotic cockroach (pictured main), inspired by the Blaberus family of roaches (B. craniifer shown on top of the robot), capable of scanning rooms and tracking its surroundings. The mechanical bug can cover 12 inches a second

The bionic cockroaches were designed by engineers Danil Borchevkin and Aleksey Belousov at Kaliningrad's Kant University.

Each robot is 4-inches (10cm) long and fitted with photosensitive sensors, as well as sensors that detect contact, meaning they can constantly look out for obstacles.

The current prototype can move autonomously for up to 20 minutes at a time, but future models are expected to last much longer.

THE MIND-CONTROLLED ROACHES Using just his thoughts, a student recently controlled the movements of a cyborg cockroach using an electroencephalography (EEG) headset. After guiding the robo-roach around an S-shaped bend, he used his brain patterns to negotiate a zig-zag path accurately. The technology was developed by Li Guangye, from China's Shanghai Jiaotong University (SJTU), and won second place in the 2015 IEEE RAS students' video contest. It is not the first time that cockroaches wearing electronic ‘backpacks’ have been controlled by humans, but it is the first time they have been controlled directly by the human mind. Mr Guangye implanted live microelectrodes to stimulate nerves in the insect’s antennae. These electrodes are linked to a remote control or computer via a wireless network. Advertisement

Mr Belousov and his team are also looking at ways to camouflage the bot to make it even more discreet.

At the moment, the cockroaches aren't fitted with cameras but they have been designed to carry weights of up to 10g, which would be enough for a small portable camera.

The scientists were inspired by the movements and robust nature of the Blaberus giganteus cockroach found in South America, but as the insect isn't found in Russia they used a Blaberus craniifer specimen.

It is slightly smaller than the giagnteus, but its movements and appearance are otherwise identical.

This species is often known as 'dead-head' due to its distinct patterns.

They studied the insects precise movements and behaviours and spent two months making sure their robotic version mimicked these as close as possible.

Planned uses for the robo-insects include performing scout and reconnaissance missions, in addition to being able to search for people in the debris of earthquakes or similar.

The university said that the Russian military has already expressed an interest in the technology and the researchers are preparing samples to send to the armed forces for testing.

Each robot is 4-inches (10cm) long and fitted with photosensitive sensors, as well as sensors that detect contact, meaning they can constantly look out for obstacles. The current prototype can move autonomously for up to 20 minutes at a time, but future models are expected to last much longer

The bionic cockroaches were designed by engineers Danil Borchevkin and Aleksey Belousov (pictured) at Kaliningrad's Kant University. At the moment, the cockroaches aren't fitted with cameras but they have been designed to carry weights of up to 10g, which would be enough for a small portable camera

The Blaberus craniifer (pictured) was used for the study. It is slightly smaller than the giagnteus, but its movements and appearance are otherwise identical

Mr Belousov's robo-roach is the latest design inspired by the critters.

Earlier this year, a team from the University of California, Berkeley created a robotic roach that can slip through gaps between grass-like vertical beams without the need for additional sensors or motors.

Other terrestrial robots have been developed with the ability to avoid obstacles, but few have been designed to traverse them.

Researchers used high-speed cameras to study the movement of Blaberus discoidalis, otherwise known as the discoid cockroach, through an artificial obstacle course containing grass-like vertical beams with small spacing.

Elsewhere, a student recently controlled the movements of a cyborg cockroach using just his thoughts while wearing an electroencephalography (EEG) headset.

After guiding the robo-roach around an S-shaped bend, he used his brain patterns to negotiate a zig-zag path accurately.

The technology was developed by Li Guangye, from China's Shanghai Jiaotong University (SJTU), and won second place in the 2015 IEEE RAS students' video contest.

It is not the first time that cockroaches wearing electronic ‘backpacks’ have been controlled by humans, but it is the first time they have been controlled directly by the human mind.

Mr Guangye implanted live microelectrodes to stimulate nerves in the insect’s antennae.

These electrodes are linked to a remote control or central computer via a wireless network.