can find all over the world in the subject of robotics, things that
will let you show off and shine brightly on some geek party :D Let's
start with swarms.. yes, we are not talking about bees or ants but
robots!
Swarm robotics
A single ant is nothing on it’s own but by working together ants can
build elaborate nests and accomplish feats that are unfathomable by
individuals. This idea of swarm intelligence is being used by
engineers to produce robots that can save lives. These robots, each
equipped with their own sensors and wireless receivers, can
communicate with the rest of the swarm in order to tackle a much
greater task than any one robot could accomplish on it’s own.
Swarm robotics is a new approach to the coordination of multirobot
systems which consist of large numbers of mostly simple physical
robots. It is supposed that a desired collective behavior emerges from
the interactions between the robots and interactions of robots with
the environment. This approach emerged on the field of artificial
swarm intelligence, as well as the biological studies of insects, ants
and other fields in nature, where swarm behaviour occurs.
Do you know what it means to "emerge"? Do you really understand
the power of this term? Do you realize that we are all a product of
"emergence"?
Let's dive more into the subject.
Self assembly robots
Modular self-reconfiguring robotic systems or self-reconfigurable
modular robots are autonomous kinematic machines with variable
morphology. Beyond conventional actuation, sensing and control
typically found in fixed-morphology robots, self-reconfiguring robots
are also able to deliberately change their own shape by rearranging
the connectivity of their parts, in order to adapt to new
circumstances, perform new tasks, or recover from damage.
For example, a robot made of such components could assume a worm-like
shape to move through a narrow pipe, reassemble into something with
spider-like legs to cross uneven terrain, then form a third arbitrary
object (like a ball or wheel that can spin itself) to move quickly
over a fairly flat terrain; it can also be used for making "fixed"
objects, such as walls, shelters, or buildings.
The ISI Polymorphic Robotics Laboratory at USC has a fantastic robot
called the Superbot that is capable of numerous modes of motion and is
made of several autonomous units that can be manually assembled or
sometimes automatically self assembled. Excellent videos below:
Are you interested in building your own self-assembly swarm?;) here is
a handbook !
http://www.instructables.com/
Read more:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
http://scienceray.com/
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ReplyDeleteVery interesting. And by the way scary.
ReplyDeletewow. polymorphics caterpillar is the best!
ReplyDeleteAdmittedly, yes! The robots are fantastic and the have made an enormous impression on me! For sure I would like to have a swarm of small robots that would assist me in doing nothing. However, I rather prefer to wait five years or so for the final versions of those constructions. The development of technology goes far and rapidly in the good direction in my opinion. I do not see any big faults in "swarm robots," I was pleasantly surprised that something like that actually exists and works just fine :) I hope that the project keeps developing, and the price will not be too high hen the time comes :) I'm looking forward for the next message on that subject.
ReplyDeleteIf you'll wait 5 years you could see a robot uprising, just imagine few thousands small robots decided to do something they'll "think".
ReplyDeleteIn fact in Japan was (probably) first sign of "robot rage"
http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/03/05/japanese-lovebot-traps-intern-in-order-to-hug-her-repeatedly/
Swarm robotics is a very interesting topic. It could improve poeple's life in many ways, but it's still only in a preliminary phase. We have to wait some time to see if swarm robotics can be developed to a level in which it can truly be usefull in a real life tasks.
ReplyDeleteSwarm robotics is amazing idea. I didn't know about it before. Robots cooperation can increase their functionality and finally they can be really helpful in our lives. I think in 20 years time the swarm robots will be cooperating to overcome obstacles, while for example cleaning our houses.
ReplyDeleteI'm interested in particle swarm and ant colony optimizations. These algorithms are members of swarm intelligence methods. I'm happy to see the practical application of these algorithms.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting topic. I wonder when will this come out of labs and be available for us in every day life.
ReplyDeleteI think those kind of robots, are now in everyday use. Those small cleaning/vacuum robots, that you can buy and set up to clean your floor, it a swarm robot right ?
ReplyDeletePersonally, I really like this subject. One day, robots will take a great part in our lives (aren't they now?). Just imagine a building made by a swarm of robot-workers comunicating like real workers on a construction field (maybe with better language :) Or soccer player robots playing a football match. With present-day technology ang its growth, all we have to do is wait a moment to see it happen.
ReplyDelete