Robot Composed of "Catoms" Can Assume Any Form

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Robot Composed of "Catoms" Can Assume Any Form

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Friday February 1, 2008 @09:46AM from the come-with-me-if-you-want-to-live dept.

philetus writes "An article in New Scientist describes a robotic system composed of swarms of electromagnetic modules capable of assuming almost any form that is being developed by the Claytronics Group at Carnegie Mellon. 'The grand goal is to create swarms of microscopic robots capable of morphing into virtually any form by clinging together. Seth Goldstein, who leads the research project at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, in the US, admits this is still a distant prospect. However, his team is using simulations to develop control strategies for futuristic shape-shifting, or "claytronic", robots, which they are testing on small groups of more primitive, pocket-sized machines.'"

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By Any Other Name by RobertNotBob · 2008-02-01 09:47 · Score: 5, Funny

I, for one, welcome our new replicator Overlords.

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1. Re:By Any Other Name by Pollardito · 2008-02-01 12:23 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  ...but i suggest to our future overlords that Voltronic is a much snappier name than claytronic
2. Re:By Any Other Name by G-funk · 2008-02-01 13:27 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  And of all slashdot stories, *this* doesn't have "whatcouldgowrong"....
  
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3. Re:By Any Other Name by Marcos+Eliziario · 2008-02-01 13:46 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Doomed? You, maybe.
  Me, being a trusted slashdot personality, am sure our new overlords will see how convenient to have someone like me at their side.
  I, for one, welcome our new t1000 overlords! Be their reign long and fruitful!
  
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Tag by snl2587 · 2008-02-01 09:47 · Score: 3, Funny

I suggest the tag "Prey", for all of you Michael Crichton fans.
Replicators!!! by alta · 2008-02-01 09:50 · Score: 5, Funny

Oh my goodness, those people obviously never watched stargate! They're making replicators! They are swarms of robots that can assume any form. The only way to stop them is for MacGuyver to stick his head in some ancient machine to gain their knowledge. Then he'll develope a super weapon that looks like a BFG3000 that will shoot waves at them causing them to disassociate with each other and fall to the ground like a pile of leggos. But that's only enough to stop a few of them, the REAL solution is to link all the stargates together at once (anyone seen baal?) and then send said 'waves of magical energy' through the one closest to T'ealc.

Someone shoot them before they doom us all!!!

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Re:Awe gee-whiz... by eln · 2008-02-01 09:51 · Score: 5, Funny

In Soviet Slashdot, tired meme jokes are in before YOU!
And that's why... by martinQblank · 2008-02-01 09:51 · Score: 3, Funny

...The best part of being a Super Villian is the Doomsday devices!
Catoms? by StCredZero · 2008-02-01 09:54 · Score: 5, Funny

Oh Hai! I haz a covalent bond?
1. Re:Catoms? by Dirtside · 2008-02-01 10:17 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Nooo! Iz MAI lectron shell. I no share lectrons wit u.
  
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2. Re:Catoms? by MP3Chuck · 2008-02-01 10:34 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Noooo, dey be sharin' mah electrons!
  
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  Who doesn't like free music?
3. Re:Catoms? by CptNerd · 2008-02-01 12:00 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  DO NOT WANT!
  
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  By the taping of my glasses, something geeky this way passes
Herds of Cat Robots! Cool! by billstewart · 2008-02-01 09:54 · Score: 2, Funny

Herds of tiny cat robots? Cool - that'll go well with the Evil Laugh and the Monocle!

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Multi Meme Heaven by sam_paris · 2008-02-01 10:10 · Score: 4, Funny

T-1000 Cat is watching you masturbate! >.
pokey pokey by Stanistani · 2008-02-01 10:13 · Score: 4, Funny

Wha... "claytronic" robots?

I never foresaw that the machines that take over the world in the future would look like Gumby...

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Re:MOD PARENT UP by 4D6963 · 2008-02-01 10:17 · Score: 4, Funny

OK, now that's funny!
No it's not! You want funny? Here's funny : There's two hookers in a lift. One goes, "It smells like cum in here". The other one replies, "Oops sorry I just farted".
Tada! Mod points please...

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I want... by www.sorehands.com · 2008-02-01 10:20 · Score: 2, Funny

I will destroy the world unless you pay me $1,000,000^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h0,000,000^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h $10 billion dollars.

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Claymation by Dynedain · 2008-02-01 10:23 · Score: 2, Funny

Unfortunately they'll only be able to make one incredibly small movement ever 6 hours or so.

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Re:Holographic Video, Batman! by ANCOVA · 2008-02-01 10:23 · Score: 2, Funny

I can't believe you didn't mention anything sex related.
Electromagnetic modules? by Anonymous Coward · 2008-02-01 10:35 · Score: 2, Funny

Invisible force!
Catoms? by Anonymous Coward · 2008-02-01 11:01 · Score: 1, Funny

How in the hell do they expect to build anything out of Catoms? Ever try to herd Cats? Trying to build anything orderly out of them would be impossible.
Re:Oh no, it's the Replicators! by mabhatter654 · 2008-02-01 11:08 · Score: 2, Funny

Asgard replicators or Ancient replicators?

As long as they evolve into an evil robot Sam Carter!
Yay! Tomorrow is CATURDAY by Anonymous Coward · 2008-02-01 11:35 · Score: 1, Funny

...and I don wanna cheezburgr I wanna PIZZA to nom nom nom and thenna snooze! ummkaythnxbai
Re:Mercedes-Benz SilverFlow by amRadioHed · 2008-02-01 13:20 · Score: 4, Funny

Mercedes showed off "SilverFlow", a shape-changing car that melts into a pool of liquid metal when not in use. I used to have a Chevy that sorta did that. I mean not the shape-changing thing, but it did form a big pool of liquid wherever I parked it.

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I gaev u electron by davidwr · 2008-02-01 14:37 · Score: 3, Funny

Cation sez:

I gaev u electron.

Wut moar u wants?

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