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Cockroach-Like Robot to Help Explain Animal Movement

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the on-all-sixes dept.

neutron_p writes "A cockroach-like robot named RHex is the starting point for a major project to understand animals' most distinguishing trait: how they move without falling over. Researchers from several universities will focus on RHex, a short, six-legged robot that scampers like a cockroach, as a working model of the principles they're seeking to uncover. By tweaking the robot and using it as a physical model, they hope to tease apart the complex neural and muscular networks in insects."

15 of 124 comments (clear)

  1. Easy... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    They don't fall over because they aren't drunk.

    1. Re:Easy... by ZeroPost · · Score: 3, Funny

      What they should really study are the effects of falling and intentionally missing, thereby attaining a state of midair suspension.

  2. How long by Dorsai65 · · Score: 5, Funny

    before one of the humanoid robots tries to squish it?

    --
    --- Asking inconvenient questions for over 30 years...
    1. Re:How long by commodoresloat · · Score: 2, Funny

      These will be the only robots to survive a nuclear war.

  3. This is good news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... for real cockroaches. When Armageddon comes, the cockroaches will have robot versions of themselves for slaves.

  4. Yes but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    How long does it live if you lop off its head?

  5. Forget moving like a cockroach... by MooseByte · · Score: 2, Funny


    I want to see robots that *survive* like a cockroach.

    Well, until they turn evil anyway.

  6. Huh? by bobobobo · · Score: 4, Funny
    how they move without falling over.

    Because they have six legs? Am I missing something here?

  7. most important feature by kxmas · · Score: 5, Funny

    Will it flip on its back when runs out of batteries?

  8. cockroach to explain animal movement by SimonInOz · · Score: 2, Funny

    Well heck they certainly explain some movement.

    When my wife sees one of those little buggers she runs away - she hates them.

    --
    "Cats like plain crisps"
  9. Not a chance by lmuk · · Score: 3, Funny


    I've seen Robot Wars and the walkers never stand a chance...

  10. Re:I work on this... by rawket.scientist · · Score: 3, Funny

    For instance, imagine such a bot making a sandwich, and then cleaning your toilette...

    And be sure to imagine it completing those actions in exactly that order. No one's been able to teach good kitchen hygiene to cockroaches yet, be they 'bots or bugs.

    --
    John Hancock wuz here.
  11. Re:Biggest application: NASA by bar-agent · · Score: 2, Funny

    I know why the Japanese are designing robots with static stability. See, it all comes down to anime.

    Giant robots are masters of martial arts action. The key to most martial arts is keeping balanced at all times. So to built giant martial arts robots, the Japanese are specializing in static stability.

    --
    i'd hit it so hard, if you pulled me out you'd be the king of britain [bash.org]
  12. Political Science by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 3, Funny

    We might finally learn where all these politicans come from, by studying cockroaches and other vermin.

    --

    --
    make install -not war

  13. Yes, that is my most distinguishing trait! by bedford · · Score: 2, Funny

    Animals' most distinguishing trait is that they don't fall over? You gotta admit that's a little funny. "Hi, I'm Greg, an animal, and my most distinguishing trait is that I don't fall over".

    Anyway, I just got a kick out of that. I'm sure once I read on, the point will be well made.