Slashdot Mirror
iRobot Introduces Morphing Blob Robot
Aristos Mazer sends word of research out of iRobot on a "chembot," or morphing blob robot, that looks like dough and moves by shifting its sides from solid-like to liquid-like states. This will allow it, in theory and after lots of refinement, to pass through cracks by squeezing. iRobot calls the new technique "jamming." The research project was funded by DARPA. The video clearly shows the early stage the work is in, but when you think about it the possibilities are a little unsettling.
welcome our new blobular overlords.
like the eggs of the Zerg.
Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power lost.
I've got a sourdough starter that will kick that thing's jammy little ass.
"I'd rather be a lightning rod than a seismometer." -Ken Kesey
Please tell me this research isn't being done on a remote island...
#DeleteChrome
Nokia has a somewhat similar concept of this as well, implemented for mobile devices http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX-gTobCJHs
Concept design, but pretty cool to watch.
If you can read this... 01110101 01110010 00100000 01100001 00100000 01100111 01100101 01100101 01101011
I for one welcome our new shape-shifting overlords.
Finally, now we can make "the ball" guard from The Prisoner.
I am not a number! You're number 6! I am not a number, I'm a free man!!
How we know is more important than what we know.
Seriously. How much longer before it's driving a semi trying to kill some kid that supposedly saves man kind?
Taco is NOT a robot! I've seen him write an original summary!
Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.
I know some digestive system specialist is thinking of ways this can be used in intestines for diagnosis and treatment. Those guys will use any equipment which gives patients a bad feeling both before and during the procedure. But, I could see how installing cameras at all vertices on the blob could be useful for taking a complete picture inside a cavity. And how this could move around blockages which currently require more aggressive methods of removal/retraction.
Every mans' island needs an ocean; choose your ocean carefully.
... is a small robot vacuum a lot like the Roomba that can *ALSO* automatically empty its canister into a larger bin whenever the vacuum is full.
File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
now I know something is going on with slashdot, I totally expected a barage of T-1000 rants, and knee jerk joke threads.
Now, if they can make D12, D10, D8, D6, and D4 robots, I'll never fail another critical roll again!
Dr Susan Calvin has really excelled herself this time.
looks like dough and moves by shifting its sides from solid-like to liquid-like states
Sounds like my wedding night.
The buttplug of the future.
I record my sleeptalking
Why is everything either a YRO or Orwellian issue here? Can't it just be cool?
I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.
If it gets much bigger, we'll have to call Steve McQueen for help!
Why is it named "chembot" when it uses purely mechanical processes for motion? I was expecting compounds exhibiting some sort of electrochemical or electromechanical properties. This robot appears to use an entirely hydraulic system.
Better known as 318230.
Why would this be more effective than a robot consisting of 20 linear actuators inside a tough enclosure? For that matter a serpentine or ferret-like robot would be more effective at fitting through narrow openings. There's reasons large animals abandoned amoeboid motion in favor of crawling or slithering.
Imagine being an insurgent hiding in a cave once the Pentagon equips this robot with a bomb, or better yet, Sony batteries...
Eeeeeewwwwwww!
So if this is the future...where's my jet pack?
Another robot that would empty that bin into another larger bin?
And a larger robot to empty that one into a even larger bin?
We can't just keep building larger and larger robots and bins. We would run out of space pretty soon. Then where would we be?
Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
I read an article recently in my alumni magazine about a collaboration between Intel and Carnegie Mellon to develop microscopic or miniature robots that use magnetic or static charges to attract and repel each other to propel a collection of them. The changes in charges and magnetic states also allows them to shift from a globular to a solid state. The article sounded similar to borg nanoprobes. From the article, it appears that they started doing this 5 years ago and have made significant progress.
I wonder if the iRobot technology is similar?
...Welcome our new shape-shifting overlords.
They called it a Mech at first, but people kept complaining how it lacks legs, and missile arms, and swords...
And that is not counting those who complained how Mech is not a robot but a vehicle.
So... they jumbled the letters a bit and called it chem-bot.
Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
A variety of medical applications come to mind.
Inject liquid-form robot next to broken or diseased bone. Robot flows into position alongside bone, then solidifies itself to splint the bone.
Inject liquid-form robot next to tumor. Robot flows into position, surrounding tumor. Robot then solidifies into hundreds of tiny scalpel blades, which chop up the tumor. Robot then flows a syringe out of the patients body, and discharges the cancerous slurry.
-kgj
Shoggoth!
X the Unknown
Now which flavor of jellybean turned it into a ladder and which one turned it into a bridge?
Bryan R.
The price of freedom is eternal vigilance, or $12.50 as seen on eBay.....
Do these egg-heads not go to the movies, evar? Why do they hate us so much?
We're all fucked.
but shouldn't we invent Mega Man before we invent one of his enemies?
Ok am I the only one missing this? A ROBOT
funded by DARPA, which can morph parts if itself between SOLID
and LIQUID states?
Next thing they'll tell us is that it's a snake...
I, for one, welcome our new Jamming Morphing Doughy Overlords.
-- You can't drink all day. (Unless you start in the morning...)
But will the gun still get stuck when it squeezes between bars?
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
At least we've already had some experience with this technology.
You are not a brain: http://books.google.com/books?id=2oV61CeDx-YC
It is not automonous
It is tethered to a power supply (in this case:pneumatic, but it could be hydraulic, electric,mechanical, whatever...)
I don't get the "ChemBot" part either, there is no chemical change. I just see compression/relaxation cycles.
I used to work in Special Mechanical Effects for films and commercials and we made all sorts of crap like this that was remotely controlled with bladders and shit in it and we never called it a "robot".
I like microcars
.... floors?
/. is really starting to fall behind when it comes to giving me my geek news on time. This blob was all over facebook a week ago.
That's the most technologically advanced dildo I've ever seen ...
No sig for you. YOU GET NO SIG!
... would feed them honey flavored jelly beans.
Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
Do they have a pleasure model?
Not like you have a choice - they're training them to *squit* through the cracks in the blast doors, fer fack's sake! *facepalm*
*starts stocking up on Selley's No-More-Gaps(tm)*
Or the person, if things go haywire.
There was a T-1000 joke thread, but it traveled back in time and accidentally terminated its former self.
My other SIG is a Sauer.
There is a MUCH simpler solution. Larger bin INSIDE the roomba.
All it requires is more plastic - no need for extra robotic thingies.
Best part... It could be made as an attachment.
You wouldn't have to buy a new roomba, just the bigger dust bin attachment that would replace the old one.
Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
Why would you need a robot that can squeeze through cracks? Just make a robot that is smaller than the cracks. I guess one can imagine a scenario where a robot or its components need to be larger than a certain size to complete certain tasks, but has to get through a crack first, but that scenario is not coming to mind right now.
LS
There is a fine line between being a cultivated citizen and being someone else's crop. - A. J. Patrick Liszkie
... so, it will get rid of sandniggers as well!
Looks like Hideo Kojima isn't such a dreamer after all...
Stupidity only gets you so far, then you've gotta try
They'll have to teach the Roomba to not ingest its blob brother.
Oh fuck, someone better call John Connor
SnotBot.
All it needs are a pair of hands.
"The only legitimate use of a computer is to play games." - Eugene Jarvis
I can understand how "unimpressive" videos like that can be ... however, consider the possibilities once this technology matures:
Inspection: Attach mini camera's and inspect those hard to reach places (space shuttle tubing, etc)
Toy Industry: Speaks for itself. A small to large chunk of a billion dollar industry ain't bad.
Robotics: This technology could act as "tissue" for life-like robots - which currently lack the smooth free flowing movement and "muscle" replication.
Military: Self-adjusting micro cameras or taps. Self-propelling explosives.
Etc...
I don't mean this to sound like a "dis" ... but, c'mon - this technology has potential.
L'esperienza de questa dolce vita (The experience of this sweet life) - Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy
"Most Disgusting String of Words Seen on Slashdot" award for 2009.
W00t! Thanks!
-kgj
I hope it's at least made out of some sort of sticky material, so that it will at least pick up some dirt as it rolls around on the floor.
It's kind of cute. They should make it fluffy. But not self replicating.
As far as I can tell, it has existed at least since 1938 when patent #2138974 describes electromagnetic "jamming" for the purposes of making a foot mold using a "magnetic box". Pneumatic "jamming" has existed since at least 1949 where patent #2472754 describes the effect... also for the purpose of making a foot mold.
-John Fenley
That's gross!
http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/1479693.html
The sun is the same in a relative way, but you are shorter of breath and one day closer to death