Aristos Mazer sends word of research out of iRobot on a "chembot," or morphing blob robot, that looks like dough and moves by shifting its sides from solid-like to liquid-like states. This will allow it, in theory and after lots of refinement, to pass through cracks by squeezing. iRobot calls the new technique "jamming." The research project was funded by DARPA. The video clearly shows the early stage the work is in, but when you think about it the possibilities are a little unsettling.
Yeah, totally agree. I can't say that I was amazingly impressed by this at all. Okay, so it's a ball that moves by making bits hard and bits soft. The movement on the thing seemed so incredibly "strugglesome" and getting that thing through a crack? Yeah, right.
Cool, yes, fairly, but lets not have the summary overhype the actual story. It's not a robot. It's a sack of gritty air. Also, there is a ponytail sized bunch of wires hanging out of it. Also, it sort of rolls semi randomly. Also, it was shown moving over a perfectly flat tabletop. Not quite the images of terror I was expecting. Call it how it is.
No it's not. A thing that you can change the shape of is different to a thing that can change its own shape. The second can surely benefit from the first (flexible circuit board printing & components etc) but the first is only really likely to benefit from the second as two things spending money researching one problem may yield twice the results (or patents, of course)
What's wrong with calling an object of terror "the ball"? Cubes are our companions, balls our terror, and pyramids somehow related to mysterious or secret groups or aliens with strange powers.
I'm not sure where a robot blob fits on the scale though. I guess it depends on whether it decides to server or destroy humanity. Then it should squeeze in nicely next to either flubber or skynet.
I know some digestive system specialist is thinking of ways this can be used in intestines for diagnosis and treatment. Those guys will use any equipment which gives patients a bad feeling both before and during the procedure. But, I could see how installing cameras at all vertices on the blob could be useful for taking a complete picture inside a cavity. And how this could move around blockages which currently require more aggressive methods of removal/retraction.
There are some basic problems with this - specifically, iRobot's demonstration uses the addition and removal of air to control both size and hardness. In bodily cavities, not only would air be in limited supply, but in some areas (i.e. blood stream) it's downright not welcome!
I *hate* to get into a humans vs robots argument, but seriously, just hire a good maid.. you'll never think robots are close to the same capabilities of humans again.
I wish every "home robot" designer would do this, maybe we'd start getting some robots that are actually capable.
The Roomba does two things that I really appreciate: 1. Cleans up under the dinner table and gets all the stuff my kids drop, and 2. cleans the dust way under the bed that breeds dust mites.
No, it doesn't do as well as a regular vacuum. But it's small and does its thing however often you want.
I can see that I am not the only deeply perverted Slashdotter here.
to pass through cracks by squeezing . iRobot calls the new technique "jamming."
Come on, they are just asking for it.
Although I think the best market for this is initially one populated by disgusting perverts (a larger market than anyone wants to admit) there is something incredibly terrifying about a military machine whose primary target is your asshole .
Imagine the horror. Somewhere in eastern Afghanistan there are men huddled in a cave fervently whispering. Talking not about smart missiles, bunker busters, and fuel bombs, but about smart AI blobs of fast moving jelly that get inside you and your death is one by your asshole exploding slowly through intense pressure deep in your bowels .
Between one of those horror blobs and 10 Navy Seals, I think I would choose death by Navy Seals instead.
You must be new to Slashdot, welcome! Just for future info, anything with a budget of more than $100 must be either a sinister plot to take away your rights or extremely dangerous here at Slashdot. Slashdot, where crazy hobos that like to hold signs hang out and chat!
Why is it named "chembot" when it uses purely mechanical processes for motion? I was expecting compounds exhibiting some sort of electrochemical or electromechanical properties. This robot appears to use an entirely hydraulic system.
Why would this be more effective than a robot consisting of 20 linear actuators inside a tough enclosure? For that matter a serpentine or ferret-like robot would be more effective at fitting through narrow openings. There's reasons large animals abandoned amoeboid motion in favor of crawling or slithering.
It's research, which is the act of converting questions that you may not even know yet into answers.
It may perfectly well turn out that your question is correct (heh) and there is no benefit to a robot made entirely out of this technology... or it may turn out that it's very good at getting into small spaces and lifting (may have post earthquake uses?) or that this material on the end of something has uses that it perhaps wouldn't do on its own.
"There's reasons large animals abandoned amoeboid motion in favor of crawling or slithering"
Oh and yes there was... big things are harder to organise and maintain... from the tiny (when atoms get too big they split) to the large (when civilisations get too large they split, we have seen this happen many times). Cells are the same... to become big animals, you have to go from being single celled to multiple celled, to multiple celled with specialist cells to perform different functions better than a single c
"From the article, it appears that they started doing this 5 years ago and have made significant progress"
Research in this area has made significant progress, yes, but still a long long way to go. There will probably be milestones along the way though, where a partially successful device may have lesser uses, but uses nontheless. There are already nanostructures that 'swim' using energy (eg, sugars) in the liquid they are put in, but when I saw those, they were just dumb self propelling motors, there was no
Looks eerily (Score:2)
like the eggs of the Zerg.
That's impressive? (Score:5, Funny)
I've got a sourdough starter that will kick that thing's jammy little ass.
Re:That's impressive? (Score:4, Insightful)
Cool, yes, fairly, but lets not have the summary overhype the actual story. It's not a robot. It's a sack of gritty air. Also, there is a ponytail sized bunch of wires hanging out of it. Also, it sort of rolls semi randomly. Also, it was shown moving over a perfectly flat tabletop. Not quite the images of terror I was expecting. Call it how it is.
Parent
Re:That's impressive? (Score:5, Funny)
Also, it was shown moving over a perfectly flat tabletop. Not quite the images of terror I was expecting. Call it how it is.
Daleks could only move over flat surfaces too.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
They could also turn anything into a flat surface.
Uh oh (Score:2)
Please tell me this research isn't being done on a remote island...
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Don't you mean, "Please tell me this research is being done on a remote island", in case something goes wrong?
Re: (Score:2)
Don't worry, this technology has been out for years [wikipedia.org] and nothing's happened yet.
Re:Uh oh (Score:4, Funny)
Don't worry, this technology has been out for years [wikipedia.org] and nothing's happened yet.
For referencing that TV show I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
We're one step closer to tentacle-rape robots. Just pray to god the japanese don't get hold of this.
Nokia Morph (Score:4, Interesting)
Concept design, but pretty cool to watch.
Re: (Score:2)
That's not a concept, that's a cartoon. From that realm, I'm far more interested in the ability to not fall by not looking down.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
No it's not. A thing that you can change the shape of is different to a thing that can change its own shape. The second can surely benefit from the first (flexible circuit board printing & components etc) but the first is only really likely to benefit from the second as two things spending money researching one problem may yield twice the results (or patents, of course)
The Ball! (Score:5, Insightful)
Finally, now we can make "the ball" guard from The Prisoner.
I am not a number! You're number 6! I am not a number, I'm a free man!!
Re: (Score:2, Informative)
What do you mean "the ball"? It's hardly be an object of terror if it was called "the ball", now would it?
It's called Rover.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
What's wrong with calling an object of terror "the ball"? Cubes are our companions, balls our terror, and pyramids somehow related to mysterious or secret groups or aliens with strange powers.
I'm not sure where a robot blob fits on the scale though. I guess it depends on whether it decides to server or destroy humanity. Then it should squeeze in nicely next to either flubber or skynet.
I'll be bock.... (Score:2)
Seriously. How much longer before it's driving a semi trying to kill some kid that supposedly saves man kind?
Hey! (Score:5, Funny)
Taco is NOT a robot! I've seen him write an original summary!
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
I've seen him write an original summary!
When did this happen?
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
I've seen him write an original summary!
When did this happen?
Don't worry, it won't happen again.
I've made a few...adjustments...
Medical applications (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Medical applications (Score:5, Interesting)
Parent
Re:Medical applications (Score:5, Funny)
Luckily, the use of blood to control the size and hardness of a mechanical system is a well-demonstrated technology.
Parent
What I want.... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:What I want.... (Score:5, Insightful)
I *hate* to get into a humans vs robots argument, but seriously, just hire a good maid.. you'll never think robots are close to the same capabilities of humans again.
I wish every "home robot" designer would do this, maybe we'd start getting some robots that are actually capable.
Parent
Re:What I want.... (Score:4, Insightful)
The Roomba does two things that I really appreciate: 1. Cleans up under the dinner table and gets all the stuff my kids drop, and 2. cleans the dust way under the bed that breeds dust mites.
No, it doesn't do as well as a regular vacuum. But it's small and does its thing however often you want.
Parent
And what's next? (Score:2)
Another robot that would empty that bin into another larger bin?
And a larger robot to empty that one into a even larger bin?
We can't just keep building larger and larger robots and bins. We would run out of space pretty soon. Then where would we be?
Re:What I want.... (Score:4, Informative)
"The Karcher RC-3000 automatic vacuum cleaner features a battery powered, self emptying, 11" vacuuming robot and self recharging base station.
I can't find a price, but last time I saw, it was about twice the price of the Roomba.
Parent
wow no obligitory T-1000 comment ? (Score:3, Interesting)
now I know something is going on with slashdot, I totally expected a barage of T-1000 rants, and knee jerk joke threads.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
public?
Additional Robots (Score:5, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
Credit where credit is due (Score:2)
Dr Susan Calvin has really excelled herself this time.
d'oh (Score:5, Funny)
looks like dough and moves by shifting its sides from solid-like to liquid-like states
Sounds like my wedding night.
Finally (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Finally (Score:5, Funny)
I can see that I am not the only deeply perverted Slashdotter here.
Come on, they are just asking for it.
Although I think the best market for this is initially one populated by disgusting perverts (a larger market than anyone wants to admit) there is something incredibly terrifying about a military machine whose primary target is your asshole .
Imagine the horror. Somewhere in eastern Afghanistan there are men huddled in a cave fervently whispering. Talking not about smart missiles, bunker busters, and fuel bombs, but about smart AI blobs of fast moving jelly that get inside you and your death is one by your asshole exploding slowly through intense pressure deep in your bowels .
Between one of those horror blobs and 10 Navy Seals, I think I would choose death by Navy Seals instead.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
A suicide bummer?
Re:Finally (Score:4, Informative)
Parent
Unsettling? (Score:2, Interesting)
Why is everything either a YRO or Orwellian issue here? Can't it just be cool?
Re: (Score:2)
You must be new to Slashdot, welcome! Just for future info, anything with a budget of more than $100 must be either a sinister plot to take away your rights or extremely dangerous here at Slashdot. Slashdot, where crazy hobos that like to hold signs hang out and chat!
Re: (Score:2)
The tin foil industry resembles those questions.
chembot (Score:2)
Why is it named "chembot" when it uses purely mechanical processes for motion? I was expecting compounds exhibiting some sort of electrochemical or electromechanical properties. This robot appears to use an entirely hydraulic system.
A more conventional robot seems more effective. (Score:4, Interesting)
Why would this be more effective than a robot consisting of 20 linear actuators inside a tough enclosure? For that matter a serpentine or ferret-like robot would be more effective at fitting through narrow openings. There's reasons large animals abandoned amoeboid motion in favor of crawling or slithering.
Re: (Score:3)
It's research, which is the act of converting questions that you may not even know yet into answers.
It may perfectly well turn out that your question is correct (heh) and there is no benefit to a robot made entirely out of this technology... or it may turn out that it's very good at getting into small spaces and lifting (may have post earthquake uses?) or that this material on the end of something has uses that it perhaps wouldn't do on its own.
Will never know without the research.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
"There's reasons large animals abandoned amoeboid motion in favor of crawling or slithering"
Oh and yes there was... big things are harder to organise and maintain... from the tiny (when atoms get too big they split) to the large (when civilisations get too large they split, we have seen this happen many times). Cells are the same... to become big animals, you have to go from being single celled to multiple celled, to multiple celled with specialist cells to perform different functions better than a single c
Wow (Score:4, Funny)
All I can say is... (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
I notice that the person who handled it wore gloves...
Powered by jellybeans? (Score:3, Insightful)
Now which flavor of jellybean turned it into a ladder and which one turned it into a bridge?
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
"From the article, it appears that they started doing this 5 years ago and have made significant progress"
Research in this area has made significant progress, yes, but still a long long way to go. There will probably be milestones along the way though, where a partially successful device may have lesser uses, but uses nontheless. There are already nanostructures that 'swim' using energy (eg, sugars) in the liquid they are put in, but when I saw those, they were just dumb self propelling motors, there was no