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A Robot That Can Walk and Jump On Water

Posted by Soulskill on from the for-the-inevitable-war-against-dragonflies dept.

Taco Cowboy writes: Researchers from Seoul University and Harvard have constructed tiny robots that can walk across the surface of standing water, and even jump into the air. The robots were designed to imitate the way pond-skimmer insects take advantage of surface tension to maneuver on top of still bodies of water. After studying the insects, the researchers found their legs started with a small amount of movement before gradually accelerating downward into a jump. The insects also sweep their legs inward during the jump to maximize the amount of time they stay in contact with the surface (abstract). "Using these principles, the researchers developed an ultra light robot made out of nickel titanium with a 2 centimeter long body inspired by origami. Its 5 centimeter long wire legs are curved at the tips like a real water strider's and coated with a material that repels water." Pictures of the robots are available here and here, as well as this animated gif.

31 of 39 comments (clear)

  1. sure, its all fun and games. by nimbius · · Score: 3, Funny

    For a robot, walking and jumping on water I can abide by, but once it starts turning water into glycol and powering a datacenter with a single 480 volt phase, thats the line. I mean what next? the 2 commandments?

    --
    Good people go to bed earlier.
  2. Re:Potential uses? by JoshuaZ · · Score: 2

    Basic research is one of the things that really does make sense for taxpayer money to go it. It needs to happen, but the advantages of it often pay out very far down the line after a few steps, so companies don't have that much incentive to do it unless they are near monopolies (think the old Bell Labs). That's exactly where tax money should go: things that in the aggregate provide a benefit for almost everyone and where there's no economic incentive for private organizations to fund it.

  3. Jesus 2.0 by xenotransplant · · Score: 1

    I welcome our new robotic lord and savior.

    1. Re:Jesus 2.0 by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      Well, we can't say we weren't warned.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
  4. Re:Potential uses? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Potential uses???

    The next Messiah is a robot!

    Deal with that.

    -- God

  5. Re:Potential uses? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I believe Robot Jesus was built and a very well-programmed robot, but he wasn't our Messiah.

  6. Jesus has returned! by Idou · · Score: 1

    In the form of a coat hanger looking robot. . .

    --
    Sdelat' Ameriku velikoy Snova!
  7. Lizard Jesus? by MagickalMyst · · Score: 1

    Really?

    A Lizard Jesus?

    Jesus Christ!

    --
    Political correctness is really just herd psychology pushed by insecure people who desperately seek social conformity.
  8. Starting a cult over here by CustomSolvers2 · · Score: 1

    Walking on water!? I don't need anything else, It is undoubtedly the new Messiah. This is excellent news for me, as far as I was planning to start a cult anyway.

    To confirm how serious I am about all this and to celebrate that the second season of Review (with Forrest MacNeil) started yesterday, here you have a worth-watching video:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRZIIms7MCU (Starting a cult. Review with Myles Barlow, the Australian prequel of Review).

    --
    Custom Solvers 2.0 = Alvaro Carballo Garcia = varocarbas.
    1. Re:Starting a cult over here by CustomSolvers2 · · Score: 1

      CLARIFICATION: Review (any of the aforementioned versions) is a comedy TV show, a mockumentary, where a guy rates the craziest situations (e.g., starting a cult). It is one of the funniest shows I have ever seen (both versions, although I prefer the American one).
      Some people might think that this clarification is not required, mainly after having added a link to a video clearly showing that it is a comedy show. But I have met lots of people lately with serious proper-understanding problems and am quite tired or their noisy nonsense. This is the reason why now I always make completely sure that every single bit is perfectly clear to anyone.

      I will think twice (and thrice) before posting a new not-too-direct sarcastic remark here just to avoid this kind of not-funny-at-all clarifications.

      --
      Custom Solvers 2.0 = Alvaro Carballo Garcia = varocarbas.
  9. The prophecies were right by DrXym · · Score: 1

    Jesus did return in the end. And this time he even has a metal exo skeleton. All praise robo Jesus!

  10. How is this a "robot" by digitalPhant0m · · Score: 2

    If this is a robot, then so is this paper clip

    Robot

    1. Re:How is this a "robot" by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

      It has locomotion and is controlled by a computer, unlike a paper clip (unless you are talking about Clippy).

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    2. Re:How is this a "robot" by jklovanc · · Score: 1

      By that definition computer controlled fireworks are robots. They have locomotion; the powder to get out of the mortar, and are computer controlled. Computer controlled "one trick ponies" are not robots.

    3. Re:How is this a "robot" by shadowrat · · Score: 1
      i don't see anything in the article about computer control.

      The new robot jumps by using a simple, light clasp (almost the entire body of the robot) that snaps shut via a heat-reactant spring after being zapped by an outside pulse of heat.

      It sounds like it is controlled by a hair dryer.

    4. Re:How is this a "robot" by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

      You seem to be promoting your own private definition of "locomotion".

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    5. Re:How is this a "robot" by jklovanc · · Score: 1

      On looking further it is not even computer controlled.

      The new robot jumps by using a simple, light clasp (almost the entire body of the robot) that snaps shut via a heat-reactant spring after being zapped by an outside pulse of heat.

      So someone hitting it with a heat gun would set it off.
      It can only do it once.

      A flea-inspired jumping system called a torque reversal catapult launches the robot from the surface of the water up to 14.2 centimeters in the air, which is similar to water striders. At the moment, the strider-bot can only jump once, and can’t land upright.

      It is a machine not a robot.

    6. Re:How is this a "robot" by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

      That's the problem with getting our tech news from a place called "popsci". They failed to link the actual research. It seems apparent that the robot has been designed, and the mechanical part has been prototyped and successfully tested. Say, do you regard yourself as a technical person? (Not looking good at the moment.)

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    7. Re:How is this a "robot" by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

      It is a prototype of part of a robot. The article only claims that the robot is designed, and does not claim that it is completely finished. If you pretend not to be impressed with what they have demonstrated so far then you must hand in your geek card.

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    8. Re:How is this a "robot" by jklovanc · · Score: 1

      It is a prototype of part of a robot.

      So we agree it is not a "robot". Much in the same way an actuator may be a "part of a robot" but not, in itself, a "robot".

      does not claim that it is completely finished.

      It claims that they have built a "robot" when they have not.

      Since Biblical times, people have been fascinated with the idea of walking on water. Now researchers have built a robot that can jump on it.

      If you pretend not to be impressed with what they have demonstrated so far then you must hand in your geek card.

      How does calling them on misuse of nomenclature have anything to do with whether or not I am impressed. It is an very impressive machine but not a robot.

      They could have said "Since Biblical times, people have been fascinated with the idea of walking on water. Now researchers have built a machine that can jump on it" That would have been accurate. The only reason to use "robot" instead of "machine" is to make it sound interesting. Robots are seen as more interesting than machines.

    9. Re:How is this a "robot" by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

      It's a robot locomotion design. It's part of a robot design. It walks on water and jumps on water. It's impressive as hell to anybody with the slightest clue. Are you happy now, or do you want to litter slashdot with more of your nonfunctional tripe?

      Question: when you have trouble with your bowel movement does it eventually come out if you really try?

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    10. Re:How is this a "robot" by jklovanc · · Score: 1

      It's a robot locomotion design.

      So is a wheel, track, stepper motor, survo, etc. It is also a locomotion design that may have nothing to do with robots.

      It's impressive as hell to anybody with the slightest clue.

      I have said it is impressive. Things do not need to be robots to be impressive.

      Are you happy now, or do you want to litter slashdot with more of your nonfunctional tripe?

      Sorry but I don't see calling someone on the misuse of terminology on a technology website as "nonfunctional tripe". Wrong terminology just muddies the water.

      Question: when you have trouble with your bowel movement does it eventually come out if you really try?

      So when your arguments do not hold up under scrutiny you get angry and attack the person making the counter argument. I have nothing against you personally. I just think that the arguments you put forward are incorrect and I believe I have shown them to be so. Maybe you need to learn to take these discussions a little less personally.

    11. Re:How is this a "robot" by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

      Do you really think that your wanking added something of value to the commentary?

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    12. Re:How is this a "robot" by jklovanc · · Score: 1

      Wow, we were having a polite conversation about terminology usage and then you bring in bowel movements and wanking. You really think that added anything to the conversation? Chill out. Everyone is wrong occasionally and we all have to learn to deal with it. Lashing out is not the correct way. I will chalk it up to you having a bad day. Hope your tomorrow is better.

    13. Re:How is this a "robot" by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

      I could add "delusional".

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    14. Re:How is this a "robot" by jklovanc · · Score: 1

      Is that a self diagnosis?

    15. Re:How is this a "robot" by RespekMyAthorati · · Score: 1

      The abstract says nothing of the kind.
      This is an interesting physics experiment that has nothing to do with robots.

    16. Re:How is this a "robot" by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

      failure to read article detected

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
  11. Re:WebM, not animated GIF by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

    Webm works flawlessly in Chrome, meaning that it works on most of the smartphones in the world and a huge chunk of desktops. Kudos to the researchers for showing the chuztpah to make whiny tech wanabees like you move a teensy bit away from their comfort zone.

    --
    When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
  12. Landing? by jklovanc · · Score: 1

    I find it interesting that none of the videos show it landing? I bet it probably sinks.

    Also, the mechanism is easily explained. As something moves across water more weight can be supported. That is why boats "get up on plane".

  13. Pet Hate: What makes this a "Robot"? by sbaker · · Score: 1

    Dunno about you - but isn't a "robot" a "a machine that has an onboard computer and moves autonomously"? This doesn't look like it has any onboard compute or battery - so it's more like a remote-controlled vehicle or something,

    This has annoyed me about a bunch of other so-called "robots" too - the RoboWars competition is mostly just a bunch of radio-controlled vehicles.

    The whole idea of autonomous control, sensors and self-containment seems important in the definition of the term.

    I'm sure this machine could eventually become a component of an actual robot - but it's not one yet.

        -- Steve

    --
    www.sjbaker.org