Does humanity really need quick, agile insectile robots? Of course!
(Amazingly quick TITAN-XIII spider robot)
In their paper published in Robomech Journal, designers Satoshi Kitano, Gen Endo, Koichi Suzumori, and Shigeo Hirose argue that insectoid robots are better suited to carrying objects across uneven ground.
The current trend within load-carrying robotic design is towards a more mammalian-type automaton, with four vertical legs.
The Japanese researchers point out that insectoid robots have a lower centre of gravity and are therefore more equipped to stay upright.
Whereas other designs moved one leg at a time, the Titan XIII moves diagonal pairs of legs forward at the same time - just like mammal-bots do.
If the robot loses its footing it is designed to swing round on its standing diagonal legs until it is steady on at least three limbs.
It is controlled via wifi using a specially designed computer programme.
I'm not scared of these robots because I've seen plenty of science fiction movies, my friends. Look at this short video to see the terrifying scuttling insect robots of Runaway, a great 1984 movie by sf writer Michael Crichton.
Mika The Robot-Boss
'the robot-boss was busy at the lip of the new lode instructing and egging the men on to greater speed...' - David C. Cooke, 1939.
Sensitive, Soft Robot Skin
'...tinted material that had all the feel and appearance of human flesh and epidermis.' - Harl Vincent, 1934.
Finger Sensors For Robot Hands
'What strange sensitivity! What an amazing development of science was manifested in every move and act and word of this Robot!' - Ray Cummings, 1931.
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