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Japanese lab creates self-propelling chemical material for future Terminators
If you were hoping that our future robot masters would be of the readily identifiable Transformers breed, or at least of the fetching Summer Glau variety, you may be in for a disappointment. A group of Japanese roboticists, led by Shingo Maeda at the Shuji Hashimoto applied physics laboratory at Waseda University, have created a chemical gel capable of independent motion, similar to that of a caterpillar.
Using a process that combines polymers, the material not only moves on its own, but also can change colors and can be used to perform calculations. According to the scientists involved in the project the morphable material could even one day be used as components of a future robot, thus making the notion of the incredibly scary Terminator T-1000 a real possibility. You can check out video of the terrifying "baby steps" of this new material here.
Via New Scientist
By Paul at 9:13 AM ON 04/30/09
Wow, that's cool but more creepy than cool. The first thing that comes to mind is those things crawling on me in my sleep.
By budgethero at 10:50 AM ON 04/30/09
awesome. lets hope the robots are sympathetic.
By Glaustorm at 12:27 PM ON 04/30/09
All hail the robot overlords!
By faythan at 1:14 PM ON 04/30/09
how is it powered, and how long does it last? I keep getting images of perpetual motion machines made real.
By BMAN at 3:36 PM ON 04/30/09
Honestly those Japanese people need to slow there roll the maxtrix is and terminator is a movie but there going to beable to make a Biography in a few years on how the technology took over the human race, like budgethero said hope its somewhat like Irobot and there sympathetic if not you, Mr. Japanese man are going to be the first to go ill be in australia nothing happens there other than animal attacks but i'd rather deal with that
By bbenny at 3:38 PM ON 04/30/09
^^^^
thats the point. its not powered. thats why its a big deal. "chemical capable of independent motion."
By ashton at 5:52 PM ON 04/30/09
that is like one of the coolest things that i can think of
By Plop ed at 5:52 AM ON 05/01/09
Made me ave a poo. Awsome
By k1nn34r at 12:14 PM ON 05/05/09
As a research chemist i am very intregued by this and the video shown on the website below. Now people shouldnt be nervous about this, it appears to be just a reversible chemical reaction which takes longer to relax than to react. The top half of the species is out of sync with the bottom therefore appearing to move with a velocity. If you also look at the video you will see that the part that touches the surface on the left has a greater surface area than the part that touches on the right. What that means is that the friction on the left is greater than the right so doesnt just contract and relax on the spot.
A great little design and experiment to scare...
+10 Kudos lol
The video can be found at
http://www.geekologie.com/2009/04/scientists_create_chemical_gel.php
By Snake at 12:04 PM ON 06/20/09
Holy crap, we're actually doing this... Really? Come on, I know we've all seen Terminator 2, the next one isn't going to be dumb enough to follow you to a smelting factory....
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Snake:
Holy crap, we're actually doing this... Really? Come on, I know we've all seen Terminator 2, the next one isn't goi...More »