Robot Piloted by a Slime Mold 212
TeknoHog writes "Robotics researchers from the UK and Japan have linked up a slime mold to remotely control a six-legged robot. The mold, which is naturally light-sensitive, is able to hide the robot in dark corners, and the scientists expect to further this technology for use in smaller, autonomous units. There is also a preprint of the research paper available from the University of Southampton."
Living brain controls flight simulator (Score:5, Interesting)
http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/11/02/brain.dish/ [cnn.com]
Biological sensors are and are not new... (Score:5, Interesting)
Already, they are training bees (in minutes) to sense out things that takes months of training for dogs. This type of bio-sensor systems will hopefully make such work even easier to achieve. I can see that one day, a search and rescue helicopter can drop a truck load of independent water robots that seek out and locate humans in the middle of the ocean, saving lives by finding them faster than current methods, and bio-sensors may be the ticket to such advances.
That's my take...
Re:is there some reason that... (Score:4, Interesting)
Simple:
"Robot controlled by light sensitive electronics seeks corner" gets a quick nod before someone realises eight year olds have been doing it with the basic Lego Mindstorms kit for years.
"Slime mold remotely controls six legged robot" gets the quirky and weird headlines. Quirky and weird headlines can be claimed as public interest. Public interest can be parlayed in to additional funding for your otherwise unfundable project.
So, whilst it's not really any more exciting, it does get the trivia audience - which gets the funding. Thus, for PhDs who can't get Google to hire them, it's essential to use a cockroach or slime mold or something similarly quirky to keep you in tweed jackets and leather elbow patches.
Re:Biological sensors are and are not new... (Score:3, Interesting)
What happens when a bio-sensor based robot walks into a cloud of chlorine gas? (e.g. chemical plant explosion/fire).
What about high-temperature environments?
What about cold/icy ones (e.g. avalanche)?
Radioactive areas? (e.g. dirty-bomb explosion)
Biological agents (viruses, pollen, etc)?
Wouldn't it also be difficult to maintain live cells in a machine? (e.g. what about food, water, oxygen, etc)?
Um... this sounds familiar... but from where?... (Score:5, Interesting)
You hit the slime mold.
The slime mold hits you.
The slime mold's robot hits you.
You hit the slime mold.
The slime mold hits you.
The slime mold's robot hits you.
You miss the slime mold.
The slime mold hits you.
The slime mold's robot hits you.
You are dead.
-hit spacebar for high scores-
the real question.. (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Biological sensors are and are not new... (Score:2, Interesting)
Can't think of a use right now, but a trained cockroach perhaps?
Re:Cue Dr. Who music. (Score:3, Interesting)