The consumable RoboRoach Electrodes required to connect to the backpack to the cockroach are consumed with each cockroach experiment. 

A cockroach who has had the RoboRoach surgery will continue to respond to stimulation from the backpack for up to 4 days. The surgery takes about an hour to perform, but controlling the cockroach is much faster -plug in the backpack, connect via Bluetooth to the app, then control its movements.