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Swarms of Microrobots Over Europe?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the robots-in-disguise dept.

Roland Piquepaille writes "In 'Mini robots to undertake major tasks?,' IST Results describes a EU-funded project which allowed to build several kinds of microrobots in the last three years. These robots are very small (about 1.5 cm by 3 cm), have limited on-board intelligence and are wirelessly controlled by a central robot control system. A follow-on project has already started, with an even more ambitious goal: deploy 'real' swarms of up to 1,000 robot clients. Such robot swarms are expected to perform 'a variety of applications, including micro assembly, biological, medical or cleaning tasks.' Read more for additional details, pictures and references about this follow-on project not described by the article mentioned above."

3 of 161 comments (clear)

  1. One question?? by eclectro · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    These robots are very small (about 1.5 cm by 3 cm), have limited on-board intelligence

    Why are they going to have "limited on-board intelligence" when they could be running Linux??

    --
    Take the cheese to sickbay, the doctor should see it as soon as possible - B'Elanna Torres, "Learning Curve"
    1. Re:One question?? by MindKata · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      They could also try using Windows but it would end up the size of a car. :)

      --
      There are 10 kinds of people in the world... those who understand binary and those who don't.
  2. Two questions: by tedpearson · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Do they run linux? How about a beowulf cluster of these?