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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.

21 of 177 comments (clear)

  1. That's impressive? by winkydink · · Score: 4, Funny

    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

    1. Re:That's impressive? by Fluffeh · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Yeah, totally agree. I can't say that I was amazingly impressed by this at all. Okay, so it's a ball that moves by making bits hard and bits soft. The movement on the thing seemed so incredibly "strugglesome" and getting that thing through a crack? Yeah, right.

      Cool, yes, fairly, but lets not have the summary overhype the actual story. It's not a robot. It's a sack of gritty air. Also, there is a ponytail sized bunch of wires hanging out of it. Also, it sort of rolls semi randomly. Also, it was shown moving over a perfectly flat tabletop. Not quite the images of terror I was expecting. Call it how it is.

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    2. Re:That's impressive? by Hal_Porter · · Score: 5, Funny

      Also, it was shown moving over a perfectly flat tabletop. Not quite the images of terror I was expecting. Call it how it is.

      Daleks could only move over flat surfaces too.

      --
      echo -e 'global _start\n _start:\n mov eax, 2\n int 80h\n jmp _start' > a.asm; nasm a.asm -f elf; ld a.o -o a;
  2. Nokia Morph by religious+freak · · Score: 3, Interesting

    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.

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  3. 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.
    1. Re:The Ball! by WraithCube · · Score: 3, Funny

      What's wrong with calling an object of terror "the ball"? Cubes are our companions, balls our terror, and pyramids somehow related to mysterious or secret groups or aliens with strange powers.

      I'm not sure where a robot blob fits on the scale though. I guess it depends on whether it decides to server or destroy humanity. Then it should squeeze in nicely next to either flubber or skynet.

  4. Hey! by Hurricane78 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Taco is NOT a robot! I've seen him write an original summary!

    --
    Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.
  5. What I want.... by mark-t · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ... 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.

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    File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
    1. 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.
    2. Re:What I want.... by Maximum+Prophet · · Score: 3, Informative

      Like this one: http://www.probotics.com/dispcat.asp?ab=18

      "The Karcher RC-3000 automatic vacuum cleaner features a battery powered, self emptying, 11" vacuuming robot and self recharging base station. ..."

      I can't find a price, but last time I saw, it was about twice the price of the Roomba.

      --
      All ideas^H^H^H^H^Hprocesses in this post are Patent Pending. (as well as the process of patenting all postings)
    3. Re:What I want.... by samkass · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The Roomba does two things that I really appreciate: 1. Cleans up under the dinner table and gets all the stuff my kids drop, and 2. cleans the dust way under the bed that breeds dust mites.

      No, it doesn't do as well as a regular vacuum. But it's small and does its thing however often you want.

      --
      E pluribus unum
  6. Additional Robots by natebarney · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now, if they can make D12, D10, D8, D6, and D4 robots, I'll never fail another critical roll again!

  7. Re:Uh oh by bkpark · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Please tell me this research isn't being done on a remote island...

    Don't you mean, "Please tell me this research is being done on a remote island", in case something goes wrong?

  8. Re:Medical applications by Jahava · · Score: 4, Interesting

    There are some basic problems with this - specifically, iRobot's demonstration uses the addition and removal of air to control both size and hardness. In bodily cavities, not only would air be in limited supply, but in some areas (i.e. blood stream) it's downright not welcome!

  9. d'oh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    looks like dough and moves by shifting its sides from solid-like to liquid-like states

    Sounds like my wedding night.

  10. A more conventional robot seems more effective. by argent · · Score: 3, Interesting

    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.

  11. Re:Finally by EdIII · · Score: 4, Funny

    I can see that I am not the only deeply perverted Slashdotter here.

    to pass through cracks by squeezing . iRobot calls the new technique "jamming."

    Come on, they are just asking for it.

    Although I think the best market for this is initially one populated by disgusting perverts (a larger market than anyone wants to admit) there is something incredibly terrifying about a military machine whose primary target is your asshole .

    Imagine the horror. Somewhere in eastern Afghanistan there are men huddled in a cave fervently whispering. Talking not about smart missiles, bunker busters, and fuel bombs, but about smart AI blobs of fast moving jelly that get inside you and your death is one by your asshole exploding slowly through intense pressure deep in your bowels .

    Between one of those horror blobs and 10 Navy Seals, I think I would choose death by Navy Seals instead.

  12. Wow by ShooterNeo · · Score: 3, Funny

    Imagine being an insurgent hiding in a cave once the Pentagon equips this robot with a bomb, or better yet, Sony batteries...

  13. Re:Medical applications by sapphire+wyvern · · Score: 5, Funny

    Luckily, the use of blood to control the size and hardness of a mechanical system is a well-demonstrated technology.

  14. Re:Uh oh by Arthur+Grumbine · · Score: 3, Funny

    Don't worry, this technology has been out for years and nothing's happened yet.

    For referencing that TV show I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

    --
    Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure everything I just said is completely wrong.
  15. Re:Finally by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 3, Informative

    What, didn't you hear about the butt-bomb? Link. They damn near assassinated the head of the Saudi antiterror squad.

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    Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!