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Robotic Whiskers Sense Shape and Texture

An AC writes,"NewScientistTech has a story about robotic whiskers capable of sensing shape and texture in a similar way to those belonging to rats and seals. The 'bending moment,' or torque, exerted at the base of each whisker is used to extract feature information. The artificial whiskers could be used on interplanetary rovers, or allow underwater vehicles to track moving objects by their wake. Check out the slightly creepy video of them stroking a sculpted face."

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  1. Re:Moo by prichardson · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Assuming the existence of God:

    If God had taken out patents, people would be able to reference them, a good thing. We could probably cure cancer, and the whole Human Genome thing wouldn't have been necessary.

    Also, they would have expired twenty years after they were granted, so they'd be public domain now anyway.

    If only God actually HAD taken out patents...

    --
    Help I'm a rock.