<p><img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/eMNNbiZ2zhPFZiA5KLVAEg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/straits_times_442/66881fed9aeab4f2c1843aacd034fcc3?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" alt="" width="1242" height="828" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/eMNNbiZ2zhPFZiA5KLVAEg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/straits_times_442/66881fed9aeab4f2c1843aacd034fcc3"/></p>
<p>一隻馬達加斯加嘶鳴蟑螂在南洋理工大學的模擬場景中檢查管道的底部，時間是 2 月 11 日。</p>
<p>新加坡 - 在深地下，一隻蟑螂在黑暗潮濕的公用管道底部匆匆而過。</p>
<p>馬達加斯加嘶鳴蟑螂正在執行檢查腐蝕和泄漏的任務。</p>
<p>由南洋理工大學（NTU）的一組研究人員開發，這些昆蟲是一個新試點項目的一部分，旨在徹底改變公用管道的維護方式。</p>
<p>該項目自 2025 年初開始開發，目前正在模擬環境中進行測試，該環境模擬了濱海高速公路（MCE）沿線的管道。</p>
<p>每隻蟑螂都手動安裝了一個小塑料 “車廂”，裏面裝有一個板載處理器和一個電子電路板——包含一個朝上的彩色攝像頭、一個 LED 燈泡和一個用於位置跟蹤和數據傳輸的通信模塊。</p>
<p><img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/cXb6Y0GQSV90bpJYX4H8Gg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/straits_times_442/cdd45998935573515c0e1bd27f0ceeda?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" alt="" width="1242" height="828" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/cXb6Y0GQSV90bpJYX4H8Gg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/straits_times_442/cdd45998935573515c0e1bd27f0ceeda"/></p>
<p>馬達加斯加嘶鳴蟑螂配備了一個小塑料 “車廂”，裏面裝有一個板載處理器和一個電子電路板。昆蟲拖着帶輪的手推車沿着公用管道的底部檢查缺陷。</p>
<p>平均而言，成年馬達加斯加蟑螂長 6 厘米，比當地品種長 2 厘米。</p>
<p>附着在昆蟲觸角和尾部的電極發出微弱脈衝，模擬碰到障礙物的感覺，使研究人員能夠無縫地引導蟑螂沿着預定路徑移動。</p>
<p>檢查過程是自動化的，依賴於機器學習算法來識別特定類型的管道缺陷。當檢測到缺陷時，將會通知人工操作員。</p>
<p>目標是最終將它們部署到現實環境中。但首先需要克服一些障礙。</p>
<p>南洋理工大學機械與航空工程學院的首席研究員佐藤宏高教授表示：“實際的管道環境可能比受控測試條件更黑暗潮濕，可能會有水積聚。”</p>
<p>該試點項目是在 2025 年緬甸地震救援工作中成功部署 10 只半機械蟑螂之後開展的。</p>
<p>該項目由佐藤教授的團隊與新加坡內政部科學與技術局和工程公司 Klass Engineering and Solutions 合作進行。</p>
<p>當時的設備——紅外攝像頭和傳感器——設計得非常緊湊，使蟑螂能夠在倒塌的結構和狹小空間中導航，尋找倖存者。</p>
<p>相比之下，佐藤教授表示：“基礎設施檢查發生在更結構化的環境中，” 這些環境通常具有可預測的地形。</p>
<p>“這使我們能夠在提高傳感能力和系統穩定性的同時，犧牲一定程度的緊湊性和靈活性，” 他補充道。</p>
<p>因此，拖車的設計增加了負載能力，並允許更穩定的成像和傳感硬件。</p>
<p>佐藤教授表示，新模型減少了對昆蟲的物理壓力，從而提高了耐力和基礎設施檢查期間的整體操作穩定性。</p>
<p>團隊目前正在同時開發救援和檢查模型。進入基礎設施檢查的舉措源於他們看到將研究適應於現實世界應用的機會。</p>
<p>“定期檢查有助於及早發現問題，以便在更嚴重的損壞或干擾發生之前進行修復或更換工作，” 佐藤教授指出。</p>
<p>他強調，半機械昆蟲體型小，非常適合 “進入人類無法輕易操作的狹小空間和縫隙，使其在多種環境中都能發揮作用”。</p>
<p>團隊目前正在與政府機構討論這種技術在現實世界基礎設施檢查中的應用。</p>
<p>新加坡擁有 6000 公里長的供水管網，每天為約 170 萬户家庭和企業提供飲用水。</p>
<p>丹麥、中國和美國的大學也在開發用於管道檢查的機器人。其中一個項目由中國廣西大學的團隊領導，成功原型化了一種軟體仿生毛毛蟲機器人，該機器人在 2025 年通過磁力在管道中爬行。</p>
<p>儘管半機械蟑螂目前設計用於公用管道，佐藤教授表示，所涉及的機器學習算法可以適應於尋找其他基礎設施中的其他類型缺陷，如電信電纜和電纜。</p>
<p>如果這項技術在這裏的現實世界應用中證明成功，佐藤教授對該項目的全球可擴展性充滿信心，強調這一概念對其他面臨老化地下基礎設施的國家尤其相關。</p>
<p>他説：“管道材料和佈局的差異可能會影響系統的適應方式，但核心能力仍然適用。”</p>
<p>來源：海峽時報 © SPH Media Limited。轉載需經許可</p>
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<p>南洋理工大學（NTU）正在開發半機械化的蟑螂，以檢查公用管道的腐蝕和泄漏。這些馬達加斯加響尾蟑螂配備了一個小型車廂，裏面裝有攝像頭和傳感器，使它們能夠導航並檢測管道中的缺陷。該項目於 2025 年初啓動，旨在利用機器學習實現自動化檢查。團隊還在探索其他基礎設施類型的應用。與政府機構的討論正在進行中，以在新加坡廣泛的水管網絡中實施這一技術</p>

<p><img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/eMNNbiZ2zhPFZiA5KLVAEg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/straits_times_442/66881fed9aeab4f2c1843aacd034fcc3" alt="" original-src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/eMNNbiZ2zhPFZiA5KLVAEg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/straits_times_442/66881fed9aeab4f2c1843aacd034fcc3"/></p>
<p>A Madagascar hissing cockroach inspecting the underside of a pipe in a mock-up scenario at Nanyang Technological University on Feb 11.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>一隻馬達加斯加嘶鳴蟑螂在南洋理工大學的模擬場景中檢查管道的底部，時間是 2 月 11 日。</p>
</div><p>SINGAPORE - Deep underground, a cockroach scurries through the dark and damp underside of a utility pipe.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>新加坡 - 在深地下，一隻蟑螂在黑暗潮濕的公用管道底部匆匆而過。</p>
</div><p>The Madagascar hissing cockroach, is on a mission to check for corrosion and leakage.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>馬達加斯加嘶鳴蟑螂正在執行檢查腐蝕和泄漏的任務。</p>
</div><p>Developed by a team of researchers from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), these insects are part of a new pilot project aimed at revolutionising the maintenance of utility pipelines.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>由南洋理工大學（NTU）的一組研究人員開發，這些昆蟲是一個新試點項目的一部分，旨在徹底改變公用管道的維護方式。</p>
</div><p>The project, which has been in development since early 2025,is currently being tested in a simulated environment modeled after pipes along the Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE).</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>該項目自 2025 年初開始開發，目前正在模擬環境中進行測試，該環境模擬了濱海高速公路（MCE）沿線的管道。</p>
</div><p>Each cockroach is manually fitted with a small plastic “carriage” that houses an onboard processor and an electronic circuit board — containing an upward-facing colour video camera, an LED lightbulb and a communication module for location tracking and data transmission.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>每隻蟑螂都手動安裝了一個小塑料 “車廂”，裏面裝有一個板載處理器和一個電子電路板——包含一個朝上的彩色攝像頭、一個 LED 燈泡和一個用於位置跟蹤和數據傳輸的通信模塊。</p>
</div><p><img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/cXb6Y0GQSV90bpJYX4H8Gg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/straits_times_442/cdd45998935573515c0e1bd27f0ceeda" alt="" original-src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/cXb6Y0GQSV90bpJYX4H8Gg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/straits_times_442/cdd45998935573515c0e1bd27f0ceeda"/></p>
<p>The Madagascar hissing cockroaches are fitted with a small plastic “carriage” that houses an onboard processor and an electronic circuit board. The insect tows the wheeled cart along the underside of utility pipelines to check for defects.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>馬達加斯加嘶鳴蟑螂配備了一個小塑料 “車廂”，裏面裝有一個板載處理器和一個電子電路板。昆蟲拖着帶輪的手推車沿着公用管道的底部檢查缺陷。</p>
</div><p>On average, an adult Madagascar cockroach is 6cm long, 2cm longer than the local variety.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>平均而言，成年馬達加斯加蟑螂長 6 厘米，比當地品種長 2 厘米。</p>
</div><p>Electrodes attached to the insects’ antennae and rear deliver weak pulses that simulate the feeling of bumping into an obstacle, allowing researchers to seamlessly steer the cockroaches along a desired path.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>附着在昆蟲觸角和尾部的電極發出微弱脈衝，模擬碰到障礙物的感覺，使研究人員能夠無縫地引導蟑螂沿着預定路徑移動。</p>
</div><p>The inspection process is automated and relies on a machine-learning algorithm to recognise specific types of pipe defects. When defects are detected, a human operator will be alerted.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>檢查過程是自動化的，依賴於機器學習算法來識別特定類型的管道缺陷。當檢測到缺陷時，將會通知人工操作員。</p>
</div><p>The goal is to eventually deploy them into the real-world environment. But there are some obstacles to overcome first.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>目標是最終將它們部署到現實環境中。但首先需要克服一些障礙。</p>
</div><p>Professor Hirotaka Sato from NTU’s School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, the lead researcher for the project, said: “Actual pipe environments may be darker and wetter, with possible water accumulation, compared to controlled testing conditions.”</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>南洋理工大學機械與航空工程學院的首席研究員佐藤宏高教授表示：“實際的管道環境可能比受控測試條件更黑暗潮濕，可能會有水積聚。”</p>
</div><p>The pilot projects follows the successful deployment of 10 cyborg cockroaches in search-and-rescue efforts during the 2025 Myanmar earthquake.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>該試點項目是在 2025 年緬甸地震救援工作中成功部署 10 只半機械蟑螂之後開展的。</p>
</div><p>That project was handled by Prof Sato’s team in partnership with Singapore’s Home Team Science and Technology Agency and engineering firm Klass Engineering and Solutions.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>該項目由佐藤教授的團隊與新加坡內政部科學與技術局和工程公司 Klass Engineering and Solutions 合作進行。</p>
</div><p>The equipment then— infrared cameras and sensors—were designed to be extremely compact, allowing the cockroaches to navigate through collapsed structures and confined spaces to search for survivors.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>當時的設備——紅外攝像頭和傳感器——設計得非常緊湊，使蟑螂能夠在倒塌的結構和狹小空間中導航，尋找倖存者。</p>
</div><p>In contrast, Prof Sato said that “infrastructure inspection takes place in more structured environments,” with are more generally defined with predictable terrain.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>相比之下，佐藤教授表示：“基礎設施檢查發生在更結構化的環境中，” 這些環境通常具有可預測的地形。</p>
</div><p>“This allows us to trade some degree of compactness and agility for improved sensing capability and system stability,” he added.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>“這使我們能夠在提高傳感能力和系統穩定性的同時，犧牲一定程度的緊湊性和靈活性，” 他補充道。</p>
</div><p>The tow cart was thus designed, increasing load capacity and allowing more stable imaging and sensing hardware.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>因此，拖車的設計增加了負載能力，並允許更穩定的成像和傳感硬件。</p>
</div><p>Professor Sato said the new model reduces physical strain on the insect, which improves endurance and overall operational stability during infrastructure inspection.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>佐藤教授表示，新模型減少了對昆蟲的物理壓力，從而提高了耐力和基礎設施檢查期間的整體操作穩定性。</p>
</div><p>The team is now developing both the rescue and inspection models simultaneously. The move into infrastructure inspection came about when they saw an opportunity to adapt their research for a real-world use case.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>團隊目前正在同時開發救援和檢查模型。進入基礎設施檢查的舉措源於他們看到將研究適應於現實世界應用的機會。</p>
</div><p>“Regular inspection helps detect issues early, so that repair or replacement works can be carried out before more serious damage or disruption occurs,” Professor Sato noted.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>“定期檢查有助於及早發現問題，以便在更嚴重的損壞或干擾發生之前進行修復或更換工作，” 佐藤教授指出。</p>
</div><p>Highlighting their small size, he said that cyborg insects are well-suited to “access tight spaces and crevices where humans cannot easily operate, making them useful in diverse environments”.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>他強調，半機械昆蟲體型小，非常適合 “進入人類無法輕易操作的狹小空間和縫隙，使其在多種環境中都能發揮作用”。</p>
</div><p>The team is currently in discussion with government agencies regarding the application of such technology in real world infrastructure inspection.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>團隊目前正在與政府機構討論這種技術在現實世界基礎設施檢查中的應用。</p>
</div><p>Singapore has a 6,000km-long water pipeline network, which supplies potable water to around 1.7 million households and businesses daily.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>新加坡擁有 6000 公里長的供水管網，每天為約 170 萬户家庭和企業提供飲用水。</p>
</div><p>Universities in Denmark, China, and the United States have also been developing robots for pipeline inspection. One such project, led by a team at China’s Guangxi University, successfully prototyped a soft, bionic inchworm robot that crawls through pipelines using magnetic force in 2025.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>丹麥、中國和美國的大學也在開發用於管道檢查的機器人。其中一個項目由中國廣西大學的團隊領導，成功原型化了一種軟體仿生毛毛蟲機器人，該機器人在 2025 年通過磁力在管道中爬行。</p>
</div><p>Though the cyborg cockroach is currently designed for utility pipelines, Professor Sato said that the machine learning algorithm involved can be adapted to look for other types of defects in other infrastructure, like telecommunication cables and electrical cables.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>儘管半機械蟑螂目前設計用於公用管道，佐藤教授表示，所涉及的機器學習算法可以適應於尋找其他基礎設施中的其他類型缺陷，如電信電纜和電纜。</p>
</div><p>Should this technology prove successful in real-world applications here, Professor Sato is confident about the project’s global scalability, stressing that the concept is particularly relevant for other countries grappling with ageing underground infrastructure.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>如果這項技術在這裏的現實世界應用中證明成功，佐藤教授對該項目的全球可擴展性充滿信心，強調這一概念對其他面臨老化地下基礎設施的國家尤其相關。</p>
</div><p>He said: “Differences in pipe materials and layouts may influence how the system is adapted, but the core capability remains applicable.”</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>他説：“管道材料和佈局的差異可能會影響系統的適應方式，但核心能力仍然適用。”</p>
</div><p>Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>來源：海峽時報 © SPH Media Limited。轉載需經許可</p>
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南洋理工大學正在研發電子機械蟑螂以檢查管道