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 ")
CyberOne Robot By Xiaomi vs. Optimus Robot By Tesla
'I shall introduce myself... I am a robot.' - Isaac Asimov, 1953.
Giving Snakes Their Legs Back
Then some unknown race had chanced upon the dreamers and decided to 'help them out.' - Vernor Vinge, 1992.
Video! Chess Robot Breaks Opponent's Finger In Match
'A robot may not injure a human being.' - Isaac Asimov, 1942.
NAVER Labs Haptic Device 2.0 Robot vs. IKEA
'... the two pairs of waldoes in the screen followed in exact, simultaneous parallelism.' - Robert Heinlein, 1942.
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
CyberOne Robot By Xiaomi vs. Optimus Robot By Tesla
'I shall introduce myself... I am a robot.'
Giving Snakes Their Legs Back
Then some unknown race had chanced upon the dreamers and decided to 'help them out.'
'Ring Nation' Show Predicted By William Gibson In 1999
'... you had your trademark Lucky Dragon Global Interactive Video Column outside.'
SolarXOne Solar-Powered Drone Flies (almost) Forever
'It's an Indian Air Force drone; its solar cells could power an entire farm.'
Video! Chess Robot Breaks Opponent's Finger In Match
'A robot may not injure a human being.'
Virtual Co-Embodyment - Two People Control One Virtual Body
'... we were supposed to be forming five unit composites first."
The Wanderer: Eyebot From Fallout, Eye From Zelazny
'We send our eyes on their appointed rounds, and they can hover or soar or back up...'
Experts Decry Planet-Scale Schemes To Limit Global Heating
'Light from the sun hit those little spheres and bounced.'
OrganEx Revives The Organs In Dead Pig
'Wakened into half-life activity one hour a month...'
NAVER Labs Haptic Device 2.0 Robot vs. IKEA
'... the two pairs of waldoes in the screen followed in exact, simultaneous parallelism.'
Spaceships Should Last So Long
'THE SPACE VESSEL was traveling swiftly… For over five thousand years they had Voyaged on and on.’
Shine On, Portable Wind Turbine
'Sometimes a man has a windmill on his roof...'
Amazing Indoor Robotic Drones Mimic Dolphins and Whales
'They circled the vast audiences, dancing, twittering, chirping...'
Space Station Shutters
'The sun-quilt was a patchwork of colors and materials on the inward side, but silvered on the outward side...'
Tiny Mining - Extract Precious Industrial Minerals From Your Own Body
'Jim, I saw them reduce four of my doctors and nurses into those little cubes!'
MIT Proposes Space Bubbles To Combat Climate Change, Misses The Point Of Space Bubbles
'Fats Jordan was hanging in the center of the Big Glass Balloon, hugging his guitar to his massive black belly above his purple shorts..'
