DARPA Planning Liquid Robots

moon_monkey writes "According to New Scientist, Darpa is soliciting proposals for so-called Chemical Robots (ChemBots) that would be soft, flexible and could manoeuvre through openings smaller than their static structural dimensions. They suggest that it could be made from shape-memory materials, electro- or magneto-rheological materials or even folding components."

Re:Idea management by Blockbuster

[Dachannien]

No, we wouldn't want a robot that could squeeze through rubble to find survivors of a building collapse. No sirree.

Re:Idea management by Blockbuster

[qwijibo]

The way the request is written, there could be some non-killing applications for these kinds of robots. Search and rescue operations frequently require getting into small spaces to find out what's going on. Collecting information from an unaccessible location has many practical applications. If the espionage applications are the ones that will pay for the research, so be it. The majority of research funding goes into finding new and creative ways to eradicate the human race, but this one could also have up sides.

The timelines are consistent with current project management methodologies - if you have no intention of completing the project, you may as well fail on an aggressive timeline. At least they haven't yet reached the point where the start date is expected to be after the completion date.

Re:Idea management by Blockbuster

[$RANDOMLUSER]

While you're right that that would be an ideal use for such a device, that's not what they're asking for:

PROGRAM GOALS AND MILESTONES
The goal of this program is to develop a payload-carrying soft robotics platform that can be used in military operations to access denied territory through small openings and perform functions.

Sure sounds more like covert ops (sneak in and blow them up) to me.

Re:Idea management by Blockbuster

[jimbolauski]

Lots of money goes towards protecting soldiers, light body armor for example. When the Chinese decide to invade the US I'll be glad we have fancy killing weapons. The best way to protect our soldiers is to eliminate the enemy. It would be nice to think everyone can play together but thats not the case, I would rather have laser guns that collect dust than old m16s that can't penetrate the enemy's new body armor.

Gah

[RichMan]

Variable, flexible and soft is not liquid.
    - liquid implies no strong bonding between neighboring particals, the particals are free to change their relationships with each other.

Remote control is not robot.
    - robot is autonomous.

This was a rant.

Re:Idea management by Blockbuster

[Ambitwistor]

Of course DARPA wants something with military applications — that's what the "D" in DARPA is for. But that doesn't mean that military technology can't have large civilian payoffs, either. (Need I remind anyone here of the Internet? That was back in the days of ARPA, but that organization has always been oriented towards the technological support of national security.)

Re:I would like..

[GundamFan]

People wonder why America is producing less and less Scientists and Engineers. It's because we have no imagination any more. We need to get our heads out of the sand and find something to reach for or learn to accept not being important in the world.

Re:Idea management by Blockbuster

[Atlantis-Rising]

When the Chinese invade the US? With what sea/airlift capability, exactly?

Re:Idea management by Blockbuster

[cheater512]

Human bridge over the Atlantic.

Re:Artificial muscle required

[Torvaun]

Why should it be a mouse? If we compare it to a shark, we've got much more flexible cartilage. Such a robot might be capable of passing through spaces smaller than the smallest dimension of the largest structural member. Even better would be if we went with an amoeba or something similar, where there are no bones at all, merely controlled motive forces. Are there any engineering specialists around to tell me if there's any good way to do something like that?

Re:Idea management by Blockbuster

[Squalish]

Furthermore, why? They could easily just sell all their US debt and send the US into hyperinflation. They don't desire to do this right now - but as soon as they have a domestic economy anywhere near our size and we present any sort of threat, they can easily cripple us in that regard without firing a shot or harming themselves in any way.