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Biomimetic Robots: A Photo Gallery

Posted by Hemos on from the examining-the-future dept.

Roland Piquepaille writes "Once again, technology is imitating nature with a new class of biologically inspired robots called "Biomimetic Robots." In this very long article, IEEE Computer Magazine looks at several projects currently underway. All these projects will have practical applications a few years from now. They include robotic lobsters for underwater mine research or flying insect-based robots for future spatial missions. Other projects are about cricket-inspired robots to be used in rescue missions or scorpion-like robots to be deployed in hostile environments for humans. and of course, there are the now famous and robust "sprawling" robots based on cockroaches. For more information, read the whole very well documented article. Or read this summary for a photo gallery and direct links to all the projects."

42 of 69 comments (clear)

  1. Wow by metlin · · Score: 3, Informative


    "We are not trying to 'copy a cockroach.' This would be impractical. And besides, who would want one?"

    About bloody time that roboticists realized that it's easier to treat robots as independent entities of research, rather than model them on what we know about this world.

    And oh, about BLOODY time we have a Roland Piquepaille section. Tiresome to keep bumping into his stuff on every other article.

    1. Re:Wow by LiquidCoooled · · Score: 1

      In one breath you "wow" at how cool this is, then you bitch about who brought it you?

      if you must block his stuff, do it at DNS, the original article links are all there, and do not detract from the original article.

      As it happens, I'm pleased he is submitting, these robots are REALLY cool.

      There isnt a chance that one of these was released in the congo is there?

      --
      liqbase :: faster than paper
    2. Re:Wow by luvirini · · Score: 5, Insightful
      You have to remember that in nature we are talking about solutions that have actually been tested to work. So taking general concepts from allready tested things is a good way to shorten your prototyping time.

      The only part of robotics that actually has a good set of working solutions is the industrial robots. For all other branches of robotics we are still in quite early stages, where the number or working, let alone good, solutions inside the science is quite low.

      Ofcourse in the end robotics is quite different from the source of inspiration, but the basic design decisions have to be based on something.

    3. Re:Wow by metlin · · Score: 1

      Hmm, where did I mention that I do not like his articles, btw?

      Incidentally, I visit his blog independently - it becomes irritating when you keep encountering his stories every other day.

      My comment was more along the lines of, get him a separate section - that's all. Those that do not like his articles or visit his site can block him out, those that don't do either can read his stuff.

    4. Re:Wow by The_reformant · · Score: 1

      Actually there are benefits to performing research this way. For example robots can be used to research about living organisms..there is a researcher here at edinburgh who is a big advocate of this approach.

      Basically the idea is you form a hypothesis of how a creature acheives a behavious, you then build a robot which uses this hypothesis and compare the results to how a real creature behaves.

      --
      I have discovered a truly remarkable sig which this post is too small to contain.
    5. Re:Wow by alnapp · · Score: 1

      And oh, about BLOODY time we have a Roland Piquepaille section

      oh, come on alt least its not Kevin "Bloody "Warwick so he's not all bad.

      --
      Get the EULA T-shirt
    6. Re:Wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      You have to remember that in nature we are talking about solutions that have actually been tested to work.

      And not just work, but work efficiently. The designs that are inefficient won't survive to breed as often as the designs that are efficient. The pressure of natural selection naturally works to make the most efficient design possible.

    7. Re:Wow by chawly · · Score: 1

      We are not here to copy cockroaches, but to squash them. Now who said that ? Was maybe Raymond hisown self. Don't know - honest. Anyhow, ole Raymond there is doin' a fine job. His article suggests that he actually read all the literature. Round of applause ?

      --
      How many beans make five, anyhow ? ... Charles Walmsley
  2. Complex Adaptive Systems by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Since biological "robots" (living creatures) seem to be a complex adaptive system it seems like a good idea to try to emulate that instead of trying to reason things out via rules, etc.

    That is to say, living creatures are systems within systems, upon systems, encasing systems. It's like systems debauchery.

  3. Back Ground information by Mstrgeek · · Score: 5, Informative
    Here are some good site with some more information anout this type of robotics hope you enjoy


    http://www-cdr.stanford.edu/biomimetics/


    http://www.neurotechnology.neu.edu/


    http://www.computer.org/computer/homepage/0904/p au lson/r9048.pdf


    Above is a PDF with good information

    --
    Chris Williams clw7500nc@gmail.com
  4. Biomimetics, why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Not all things useful are available in nature. If cheetahs could have wheels, they would.

    I've never understood the goal of biomimetics. Designing the first cars to use the same streets was a good idea. Designing them to look and act like a horse and carriage would have been silly.

    1. Re:Biomimetics, why? by hypnotik · · Score: 3, Insightful

      How useful is a car in rocky terrain? Or in a dense forest? Or on sandy soil?

      For that matter, how useful are wheels on any terrain other than fairly wide, even surfaces? Cheetahs don't have wheels because going 60mph over rough, uneven terrain is impractical. And we won't even talk about the agility of a cheetah compared to the agility of a car.

      Building robots to mimic biology is a way of making robots more robust, better able to deal with unexpected or uneven terrain, and just all round more useful. The concept isn't that hard.

      --
      (I was only an egg, but then I cracked)
    2. Re:Biomimetics, why? by lukewarmfusion · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Cheetahs wouldn't have wheels because they wouldn't work for them. Wheels wouldn't work so well over uneven terrain, through grassy plains, and in soft dirt. Wheels would also prevent them from turning and reacting to prey as well as their current legs allow. Also, independently moving parts (such as wheels) require maintenance likely to be outside the ability of a cheetah.

      Cars were once known as the "horseless carriage." They were designed to look and act like a horse and carriage, sans horse. It would be silly to put a completely useless figure of a horse in front of the car; but robots are not designed to look like animals for appearance as much as function.

      Seemingly off-topic but really related question: Why do you think most fictitious depictions of aliens are humanoid?

    3. Re:Biomimetics, why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Seemingly off-topic but really related question: Why do you think most fictitious depictions of aliens are humanoid?

      Because it's cheaper to put a human actor in a humanoid costume than to find some way of animating a ten-legged six-armed three-headed being?

    4. Re:Biomimetics, why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      How useful is a horse where it's illegal to shit in the road?

  5. Better eating conditions for researchers! by Ingolfke · · Score: 3, Funny

    "[the researchers] draw their inspiration from... the robustness of the cockroach."

    researchers are looking in the cupboards of their local diners

    Typical researcher... sees a cockroach running across the filthy floor of his local diner and thinks "Eureka! I should make a robot that moves like a cockroach", all the while ingesting the roaches larvae, embedded in his day-old chili.

  6. Wake me up in a few years time by aussie_a · · Score: 2, Insightful
    All these projects will have practical applications a few years from now.
    I'd like some skepticism upsized and yes I'd like some fries with that.

    Sorry if I'm too skeptical, but these "great ideas just around the corner" always bring it out in me. I'll believe when I see it. Before then it's just cool ideas.
  7. Cockroaches by five18pm · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "We are not trying to 'copy a cockroach.' This would be impractical. And besides, who would want one?"

    Lots of people? Firefighters/military/...? Has good antennae, detects movement quickly, is quick to respond, is small to go into lots of crevices, who wouldn't want one?

    1. Re:Cockroaches by Jinjuro · · Score: 1

      You could even make them wander around for a few days if their head was crushed, just to wierd people out.

      They mention primarily animal-based robots, why don't they try combining the better aspects of multiple creatures into one robot and have, maybe, a crobster or a finchroach? It is interesting either way.

    2. Re:Cockroaches by gl4ss · · Score: 1

      *who wouldn't want one?*

      you'd want a _COCKROACH_? wth for? go and buy/catch some cockroaches maybe?

      now, about having some cockroaches abilities.. that's entirely different thing.

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    3. Re:Cockroaches by GR1NCH · · Score: 1

      You bring up a good point. Is anyone else noticing how robots are coming up in the news more and more, and how the electronics for them are getting cheaper and cheaper. In fact there seems like robotics will be the next hobby the way that model rockets and airplanes were. Despite all that, it doesn't seem like anybody is actually adopting them for practical uses. I mean if somebody can make biomimetic robots for a hobby, why isn't the army using them to scout ahead during MOUT (military operations urban terrain) Missions. And why aren't firefighters using them to help analyze fires before rushing into a burning building. It seems like the cost prohibitions are getting lower and lower, and small scale storage devices are getting cheaper and cheaper as well. What exactly IS the holdup? Or am I just being utterly nieve?

    4. Re:Cockroaches by mrchaotica · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The problem is that they're still bleeding-edge technology. The military, firefighters, etc. need the bugs to get worked out of them before they're useful. Also, just because a hobbyist can get something to work doesn't mean it's reliable enough for people like that to depend on.

      --

      "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz

    5. Re:Cockroaches by Namarrgon · · Score: 1
      The military, firefighters, etc. need the bugs to get worked out of them

      What would that leave you? Nothing at all?

      --
      Why would anyone engrave "Elbereth"?
    6. Re:Cockroaches by mrchaotica · · Score: 1

      "Them" refers to the robots, not the firefighters. Sorry.

      --

      "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz

  8. Cricket-inspired robots - Noooooo! by Zukix · · Score: 4, Funny

    Evil white robots intent on rebuilding the Wicket gate and destroying the universe?

    For the love all things froodish - no!

    1. Re:Cricket-inspired robots - Noooooo! by crighton · · Score: 1

      You know... I'm glad I'm not the only one who immediately thought of the same reference. You must be one really hoopy frood.

      Have a pleasant diurnal anomaly

  9. Re:Roland Piquelle link ... by julesh · · Score: 1

    Err... the summary starts "Roland Piquepaille writes", so I think it _is_ from him.

  10. IEEE more than a name by MosesJones · · Score: 4, Interesting


    As an IEEE member and contributor I'd urge anyone who is actually serious about Computing to join as well. There are regularly articles in Computing and Software that act as great arguments against PHBs and also which challenge perceptions you may currently hold.

    When there is an article in the IEEE about Wi-MAX or equivalent its by the chaps writing the standard and building the industry. Where there is an acticle on productivity its actually a proper study rather than a slashdot poll (not that slashdot is ever a biased source of course!).

    Join the IEEE, join the computer society. Sure it means you have to not buy a new graphics card in this half of the year, but it could help your career.

    I'm not on a commitee or anything, I'm just a member and its well worth the money IMO.

    --
    An Eye for an Eye will make the whole world blind - Gandhi
  11. Wait! by StevenHenderson · · Score: 2, Funny
    All these projects will have practical applications a few years from now

    Ahem...and where might the female love-making robots be in this list? I'm getting sick of waiting (and the Aibo is really a poor substitute).

  12. Confused....... by Insipid+Trunculance · · Score: 2, Funny

    cricket-inspired robots to be used in rescue missions

    So that inspiration coming from a proper test match or just a one day international?

    *Ducks*

    --
    Wanted : A Signature.
  13. Biomimetics will really take off when... by DeepDarkSky · · Score: 1

    nanotech and MEMS become truly advanced. Many of these robots emulate creatures that are much smaller, and therefore are able to do what they do because of the scale. Of course, it also really depends on what "features" you are emulating from the creature. Some features can be scaled up, some cannot.

  14. No mention of CWRU? by Saltine+Cracker · · Score: 1

    Interesting that there was no mention of Case Western Reserve University's robotics program.

    They have a very interesting project going on pursuing a cockroach design. Cockroaches have the fastest motor capability in the world. On the biology side of the research the cockroach's nerve impulses are being studied by cutting away the exoskeleton and attaching sensors to varios muscles involved with locomotion. The Computer Science and robotics end then studies this data to implement the cockroach's locomotion capability on the robot.

    1. Re:No mention of CWRU? by Nukenin · · Score: 1

      RTFA a little more closely--Case Western's Biologically Inspired Robotics Lab is covered in the section "Bugs and Whegs" (and one of their "crickets" is the photo-subject of Figure 4).

  15. Re:Roland Piquelle link ... by iezhy · · Score: 1

    yes, its from him

    and after some diggin in his blog, i found another site with a post by same Roland. And this post is surprisingly similar to the one he posted on /.
    :-)

  16. Cricket/Lopster by nurb432 · · Score: 1

    Anyone else notice a distinct similarity between the 2 photos?

    Looks like a different angle of the same thing..

    --
    ---- Booth was a patriot ----
    1. Re:Cricket/Lopster by Herschel+Cohen · · Score: 1

      I only read the summary, and the photos seemed to show exactly the same robot.

      I was searching the messages to see if anyone noticed. I did not have time to read the full IEEE article - do they have the same error?

    2. Re:Cricket/Lopster by Nukenin · · Score: 1

      Read the IEEE article, it's not really that long, and boasts a valid picture of the "cricket" robot to boot.

  17. Bug in the Summary by skidoo2 · · Score: 1

    Hasn't anyone noticed that the picture of the lobster and the cricket are exactly the same? Doy.

  18. Did anyone else hear the word... by Sensible+Clod · · Score: 1

    Runaway screamed in their ear when they read this?

    --

    The difference between spam and poop is that you don't have to dig through septic tanks looking for real food. -- Me
  19. Roland the Plogger again by Animats · · Score: 2, Informative
    This is getting really annoying. Especially since he doesn't actually know anything about the subject.

    For a much better source of articles, see What's New, by Bob Park from the American Physical Society, who writes about what's happening in science. Park is a physicist, and knows what he's talking about.

  20. Raid! by rts008 · · Score: 1

    Time to patent EMpulsticide for robotic pest control!

    --
    Down With Slashdot BETA!!! I've been around the corner and seen the oliphant; you can only abuse me from your perspecti
  21. Entomopter...They can't be serious. by wolfpaws · · Score: 1

    I had to laugh at the CGI footage. I think in order to be realistic, they should have shown them shaking apart their instrumentation package or bouncing off the rover in a botched landing and bursting into flames.

    Anyone that has operated a remote-controlled plane or heli kit will look at that animation, roll their eyes and say "Yeah right."