Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
Flesh-Eating Robot Research Languishing
Flesh-eating robot research is not progressing as quickly as you might think. As you will learn, many of the pieces are in place.
First there was SlugBot, a robotic slug catcher that was able to autonomously identify and pick up bothersome garden pests.
(Slgbot 360 degree reach arm with light sensors)
But SlugBot is no mere battery-powered toy. SlugBot could hunt down up to 100 slugs per hours and then use their rotting bodies to generate electricity, thereby keeping itself running.
The choice of prey is deliberate; a robot must learn to catch slowly oozing prey, before it can run after more agile creatures. "Slugs are slow," said Dr. Ian Kelly, SlugBot's creator. "You can't expect the speeds of a cheetah chasing a zebra. Slugs are small and manageable."
SlugBot picks up its prey and feeds it gently into an on-board hopper. Although you wouldn't think that slugs would struggle or fight back, it can be a problem. "There is a problem with stopping the captured slugs from climbing out," Kelly said. "We may utilize a low-energy electronic shock system to keep them in the container."
After hunting slugs all night, the robot returns to its home base and dumps its victims into a fermentation tank, which turns the slugs into electricity to fuel another night's work.
Although SlugBot was an improbable winner of Time Magazine's 2001 Inventions of the Year award, I haven't seen them at my local home and garden store.
But not to worry. EcoBot-II was developed in 2004 by Melhuish, Greenman, Ieropoulos and Horsfield at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) in the UK. EcoBot skips the fermentation tank step and is a fully self-contained predatory robot. EcoBot-II was able to run for 12 days after being fed 8 houseflies. However, it should be noted that it did not catch its own flies, relying instead upon willing human servants.
(EcoBot II)
Moving on to larger prey, reporters were alarmed last year when an erstwhile robotic gastronomist, an electromechanical sommelier, was created; the robot was able to identify wines, cheeses, meats and hors d'oeuvres. So far so good.
However, when a reporter placed his hand in the robot's jaw receptors, he was identified as bacon. When a cameraman tried the same test, he was identified as prosciutto.
(Robotic sommelier knows its pork)
This past year, French researchers have created an artificial mouth, to allow robots to taste in a rigorous way for the first time. “The artificial mouth is composed of a sample container (600 mL), a notched plunger, and variable-speed motors to control precisely the speed of compression and rotation movements. The container is maintained at 37 °C by means of a laboratory thermostat (Bioblock Scientific) via an outer layer. The container is sealed with a cap maintained by a circlip.”
(Robotic chewing device diagram)
Chewing is one thing, but could a robot even consume larger prey? You're wondering, I know. Take a look at this "rescue robot" that is able to consume a reclining human (watch where you nap).
(Tokyo fire department rescue robot pulls person in)
Anyway, it seems to me that the pieces are all in place. Perhaps we should be grateful that, on this occasion, the wheels of progress are moving more slowly. Thanks to Moira for suggesting this story.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 7/16/2008)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 0 )
Related News Stories - (" Robotics ")
A'Seedbot Autonomous Desert Robot
'Each is planted most tenderly in its own little pit.' - Frank Herbert, 1965.
Gentle Monster Robot Head
'The robot knelt before the head, lifted it slowly, and with... its strong hands placed it on its shoulders...' - Hugo Correa, 1968.
Burro Robot Follows You And Gets Smarter
'Oh, there you are! the balloon piped at the amorphous mass of living tissue...' - Philip K. Dick, 1964.
Auto-Targeting Fire Sprinkler Systems Now Reality
I think every kitchen should have one of these.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
Star Trek Voyager Replica Tricorder And Galaxy Quest
'They designed those controls after watching you...take her out!'
Rolls Royce Electric Airplane Breaks Records
'A white electric plane approached at great speed...'
Chang'e-5 Lunar Lander Seeks Water
'... get out the solar power apparatus and send it down to us from the air-lock by the crane.'
I Really Want A Folding Computer
'...A paper thin polycarbon screen unfurled.'
A Kill Switch For Your Car?
'The car faltered as the external command came to brake...'
Scientifiction, Searchlight of Science
'And science goes on, with scientifiction as its searchlight.'
Wearable Biomedical Sensors Printed Directly On Your Skin
'The dragon is a skin computer... People put it on their arms and exchange personal data.'
Artificial, Implantable Kidney Prototype
'George Walt's corporate existence proved the workability of wholly mechanical organs...'
Ultra-short Pulse Laser Kills Bacteria In Vivo
'...coherent beams at precise wave-lengths passing through her flesh to zap foreign molecules within her body.'
Bioprint Prototype Handheld Bioprinter
'He turned the little art-derm nozzle...'
Betty Crocker, The First Company Avatar
'After six months of surgery and psycho-conditioning, he was identical with the other 496 Mr. Prestos...'
Augmented Reality Book Covers Reveal The Inner Book
'The E-paper holograms leaped from lurid covers...'
The First Multi-User Hologram Table?
Let the Wookiee win.
Apollo 8 Astronauts Pass The Equigravisphere
'... divers other objects, firearms and bottles, abandoned to themselves, held themselves up as by enchantment.'
Stellar Pizza Is A Pizza Robot That Comes To You
'No hand touched the food...'
Yamaha MOTOROiD Living Motorcycle Experiment
'He had never ridden any motorized device that lacked onboard steering and balance systems.'
