DailyDirt: More Robots Inspired By Animals

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

Thu, Apr 21st 2011 5:00pm — Michael Ho

Previously, we saw some bio-inspired robots that could fly around. But walking can be even more challenging if the terrain is rough enough. Here are a few more robots that have been designed to run around on the ground.

Some researchers are looking at invertebrates as a model for robot locomotion. Worms, crabs, lobsters, insects and arachnids are all being studied to re-create the rhythmic nerve impulses that could produce autonomous robots that can explore unfamiliar terrain autonomously. [url]
Another hexapod robot named HECTOR mimics the body of a stick insect. Yikes. More creepy spider-like robots are on the way. [url]
Boston Dynamics is working on a robot called Cheetah that will eventually be able to run as fast (or faster) than the actual animal. DARPA is funding this project to create bots that can outrun humans. [url]
To discover more interesting robot-related content, check out what's currently floating around the StumbleUpon universe. [url]

By the way, StumbleUpon can recommend some good Techdirt articles, too.

Filed Under: biomimicry, hexapod, invertebrates, robot locomotion
Companies: boston dynamics, darpa

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Pixelation, 21 Apr 2011 @ 7:36pm

The robot cat may win the race but only because it's a cheatah!
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Lawrence D'Oliveiro, 21 Apr 2011 @ 11:41pm

Boston Dynamics
Want a grand tour through Uncanny Valley? Go look up some YouTube videos of Boston Dynamics� �Big Dog� robot. Watching the sequence where the guy gives it a kick and it immediately throws its legs out to keep balance just sends chills down my spine.
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lrobbo (profile), 10 Jun 2012 @ 8:25am

Just watched that clip. Wow.
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