Related Sections: Future Tech Robots
Tiny I-Swarm robots are perfect for the secret agent in you
Looking like something Q would give to James Bond for his next adventure, these miniature self-contained robots can move using power from a built in solar cell, while receiving infrared control signals. Three of the tiny legs are used to move the robot, while a fourth is used as a sensor to detect objects and other robots in the swarm.
With the addition of a ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit), the developers claim that groups (swarms?) of the I-Swarm can be used for micromanufacturing, medical procedures, cleaning, or surveillance. I'm sure that last possibility will be of interest to Q.
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Physorg.com, via Gizmowatch
By stargate525 at 1:16 PM ON 08/29/09
I think you mean 'of,' not 'or.' Though it is a cool tech.
By hyperion20 at 2:27 PM ON 08/29/09
So, considering it uses the application of solar cells, wouldn't they be useless in the dark or durring the night?
By Sam at 5:21 PM ON 08/29/09
@hyperion20: that's when they activate their secret nukular reactor.
By Charles at 5:41 PM ON 08/29/09
Nanites - here they come!!!!!!!!
By Travis at 6:03 PM ON 08/29/09
There are some cool videos, including ones that show the robots moving around, over on Hizook.com -- http://www.hizook.com/blog/2009/08/29/i-swarm-micro-robots-realized-impressive-full-system-integration
By randyrittenhouse at 7:10 PM ON 08/29/09
this is all well and good if its on a perfectly smooth surface but get them on anything else and they will tip over like a freakin turtle and then they are useless
By Anonymous at 12:32 AM ON 08/30/09
that looks hard to build
By kash at 12:34 AM ON 08/30/09
All I could think of when I saw these was the spiders from the Minority Report movie. If these could actually be effective, they may be good tools for spying or in war. She'll see what becomes of this technology. http://ziggytek.com/
By thinkdunson at 11:25 PM ON 08/30/09
yeah, i'm sure this is a step in the right direction, but to claim that these can do anything besides move on flat surfaces and sense when it runs into something, is b.s. it doesn't even look like it can turn.
By Al at 5:31 PM ON 09/01/09
Nah, they won't be stuck like turtles. Turtles don't get stuck that easily on uneven surfaces. They need to make them with flexible coils so as to adapt to all sufaces.
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Al:
Nah, they won't be stuck like turtles. Turtles don't get stuck that easily on uneven surfaces. They need to make ...More »