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iRobot Introduces Morphing Blob Robot

Posted by kdawson on from the compare-to-doctor-johnson's-dog dept.

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.

2 of 177 comments (clear)

  1. The Ball! by QuantumG · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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.
  2. Re:What I want.... by QuantumG · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I *hate* to get into a humans vs robots argument, but seriously, just hire a good maid.. you'll never think robots are close to the same capabilities of humans again.

    I wish every "home robot" designer would do this, maybe we'd start getting some robots that are actually capable.

    --
    How we know is more important than what we know.