Like A Cat, New Robot Lands On Its Feet

eckenheimer writes "Students at the Physics Department at Drury University have developed a robot that uses motions and contortions of its body to orient itself in zero gravity. According to the project site, 'If you've ever seen a cat land on its feet after falling while upside down then you've seen the idea behind our project.' The effort is a proposal for the NASA Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Program."

Comments

Like a...?

[SIGALRM]

If you've ever seen a cat land on its feet after falling while upside down

I'm looking forward to their "like-a-dog" model: word on the street is, licks its own ass.

Now that's using "motions and contortions".

Re:Like a...?

[grunt107]

I would merge the cat/dog projects.

All the loyalty of a cat with the cleanliness of a dog

Re:Like a...?

[drtomaso]

Some other "cat-like" behavior they forgot to mention:

• Robot sleeps 16 hours a day
• Robot begs for food when scientists are seated around the dinner table
• Ate robo-bird

Now all we need is buttered bread

[Anonymous Coward]

...to stick on its back and we'll have an antigravity engine.

Have to wonder how they did their research...

[foidulus]

I can just imagine the papers you would have to fill out
Experiment: "Drop cats repeatedly, observe results for use in robotics..."
See how well PETA would love that one!

Re:Cats landing on their feet

[captnjameskirk]

the acceleration due to gravity might result in an unpleasant aftermath

Actually, it's the deceleration when meeting the ground that is usually the culprit.

Re:Cats landing on their feet

[no longer myself]

I'm just having this morbidly funny image of people throwing cats out windows as part of a government study to test that "statistic":

"Damn, Bob... Did you see that? He might have made it if that cab driver hadn't run over him."

"Yeah, Pete. Let's take this tabby up to the 23rd floor. Oh, by the way, did you hear they're working on a robot that mimics this sort of behavior."

"I think I did read something about that, Bob, but tossing an expensive piece of hardware out the window just isn't as satisfying."

"You've never owned a Mac, have you, Pete?"

Zero G?

[Shabbs]

Just curious... how does something "fall" in zero g? Doesn't falling imply gravity?

What would a cat do in Zero G? Would it continously try to adjust itself.

Now THAT would be funny to see.

Cats in spce... the next fontier.