A robotic
cockroach?
Okay.
What is this ‘bot going to do that is so bad that it earned the name “cockroach?”
There are other robotic insects in the research and development phase. Scientists at Harvard are continuing to work on the development of the first robotic bee. The goal is a robot that can pollinate flowers and crops just like a honeybee. However, the goal is still far away. [1]
Harvard’s “Micro Air Vehicles Project” is using titanium and plastic to fashion a robot that duplicates the functions, if not the appearance, of the familiar honeybee. The robo-bee pops up, complete with wings, from a quarter-sized metal disk. One day, it is hoped, these “bees” will be engineered to fly in swarms, live in artificial hives, and locate sources of honey. [2]
But a “Robo-Bee” just has to be a “nice” robot. After all, who doesn’t like honeybees? Even though bees are insects, they’re some of the hardest workers in a major human industry – agriculture. Not only do bees work in agriculture, but agriculture would be pretty much impossible without them. Bees pollinate crops. And who can really dislike a bug that makes honey?
But cockroaches are really unpopular. Consider another robot named after a “less than popular” insect.
There’s a robot in the works called “Robo-Fly.” But this brings up a question. Why would anyone want to develop a robotic fly? Bees are more than useful, and who can forget the honey-making. But the fly? It’s one of the most hated insects of all time. But the mystery of “why robo-fly?” is actually a question of semantics – it’s about “names.”
In fact, Robo-Fly is exactly the same robotic insect that is being developed as Robo-Bee. Why give the same small robot two different names? And, why give it a nice name “bee” and, then, a not-so-nice name “fly?”
Well, it’s about market positioning. The names “bee” and “fly” are more about what these little robots are sold to do. Does that mean the Robo-Fly will do what flies do -- land on food at outdoor gatherings and irritate dogs on hot summer days? No, it’s even stranger than that.
When perfected, the “Micro Air Vehicle” will be marketed as Robo-Bee when it is to be used to do what bees do – pollinate crops. But this same insect-sized robot will also be marketed as a mini surveillance drone. The surveillance drone gets the not-so-nice name: Robo-Fly.
Look at it this way. When the robot is intended to secretly watch and, perhaps, eavesdrop on some unsuspecting victims, it gets a less flattering name like “fly.” Surveillance is useful but, today, has developed an ugly reputation. Don’t get me wrong, when a flying drone spies on “the enemy,” it’s okay. When it spies on my neighbor, it’s a subject for public debate. But, when it spies on me . . . it’s downright evil!
So the Micro Air Vehicle is a lovable Robo-Bee when it’s hard at work pollinating crops in our fields. But it is an unwelcome “Robo-Fly” when it’s looking over our shoulders and eavesdropping on our private lives.
So, that brings us back to Robo-Roach. What is this ‘bot going to do that is so bad that it earned it the name “cockroach?”
Well, it isn’t actually named “cockroach.” It’s called “roach,” but that’s only part of its name. Its full name is VelociRoACH. The “veloci” means speed, and that’s what it’s got. It’s fast. So, the “cockroach” name mystery is solved when you realize that cockroaches are very fast critters.
So, Robo-Roach isn’t about making an indestructible pest to replace the one humanity spends millions of dollars yearly to eliminate. It’s about imitating what the cockroach can do: run fast. The concept is biomimetic or what is sometimes called biomimicry.
“Biomimetics” is a term used to describe a methodology of approach to technological design: the development of technology designed to imitate and replicate the activities of biological systems and organisms. Some time ago, the term “bionic” was coined to describe a technology incorporating a “function copied from nature.” When Hollywood got a hold of the term “bionic,” the “Six Million Dollar Man” hit the small screen. Maybe Hollywood’s version of “bionics” was just too interesting to be seriously “scientific.” Whatever the reason, the term “bionic” fell into scientific oblivion.
The gap was filled by the term “biomimicry,” which has been widely adopted to describe any technology imitating (copied from) nature. Sometimes, biomimicry is more of a necessity than a choice. If you want robots that work like a biological organism, you’ll either have to imitate the organism or forget the project altogether.
The cardboard Robo-Roach or, rather, VelociRoACH was conceived by Duncan Haldane and his colleagues at UC Berkeley’s Biomimtic Millisystems Lab. This 4 inch-long robot “runs” at about 6 mph. For its size, it’s the fastest robot in the world.
Their real-life model? The American cockroach.
Why? That same cockroach is one of the fastest insects in the world.
But what about the evil, roach-like purpose for which this ‘bot is intended? Actually, VelociRoACH has no evilpurpose at all. It’s designed to be a search and rescue ‘bot.
Okay, but what’s with the “cardboard?”
Actually, the cardboard is one of this robot’s most important features. Haldane explained, “The idea is that we can build a huge number of very cheap, bio-inspired robots with remarkable mobility to quickly find people trapped in a disaster site.”
VelociRoACH is designed to go where human beings can’t in a disaster situation. The ‘bot is intended to assist in the location of the injured and provide information to assure the safety of rescue personnel. VelociRoACH’s C-shaped legs work like springs, just like those of a cockroach. With three of its six legs on the ground at all times, when it runs, the ‘bot remains remarkable stable. But it’s most interesting feat is the way it handles obstacles. It does just what a real roach does – it runs right into them -- head first. This throws the VelociRoACH back into an upright position from which it crawls right over the obstruction. This, by the way, is exactly how the real cockroach deals with obstacles.
Well, considering how useful our Robo-Roach will be, I guess we can tolerate at least one robot designed to imitate one of our less than favorite critters. At least, they didn’t design a Robo-Lizard.
Oh, wait. They did.
Same team. Different day.
“Clash” is a 4 inch, six-legged robot with a tail. It climbs near-vertical surfaces with the aid of a “gecko-inspired adhesive” on its feet. Observers agree. This ‘bot looks like a lizard.
The End?
Of interest:
Cardboard cockroach ranks among world's fastest robots
Robotic cockroach faster than the real thing
VelociRoACH: A tiny robotic cockroach with a need for speed
VelociRoACH: A Tiny, Super-Fast Robot Cockroach Made from Cardboard That Can Save Lives
Okay.
What is this ‘bot going to do that is so bad that it earned the name “cockroach?”
There are other robotic insects in the research and development phase. Scientists at Harvard are continuing to work on the development of the first robotic bee. The goal is a robot that can pollinate flowers and crops just like a honeybee. However, the goal is still far away. [1]
Harvard’s “Micro Air Vehicles Project” is using titanium and plastic to fashion a robot that duplicates the functions, if not the appearance, of the familiar honeybee. The robo-bee pops up, complete with wings, from a quarter-sized metal disk. One day, it is hoped, these “bees” will be engineered to fly in swarms, live in artificial hives, and locate sources of honey. [2]
But a “Robo-Bee” just has to be a “nice” robot. After all, who doesn’t like honeybees? Even though bees are insects, they’re some of the hardest workers in a major human industry – agriculture. Not only do bees work in agriculture, but agriculture would be pretty much impossible without them. Bees pollinate crops. And who can really dislike a bug that makes honey?
But cockroaches are really unpopular. Consider another robot named after a “less than popular” insect.
There’s a robot in the works called “Robo-Fly.” But this brings up a question. Why would anyone want to develop a robotic fly? Bees are more than useful, and who can forget the honey-making. But the fly? It’s one of the most hated insects of all time. But the mystery of “why robo-fly?” is actually a question of semantics – it’s about “names.”
In fact, Robo-Fly is exactly the same robotic insect that is being developed as Robo-Bee. Why give the same small robot two different names? And, why give it a nice name “bee” and, then, a not-so-nice name “fly?”
Well, it’s about market positioning. The names “bee” and “fly” are more about what these little robots are sold to do. Does that mean the Robo-Fly will do what flies do -- land on food at outdoor gatherings and irritate dogs on hot summer days? No, it’s even stranger than that.
When perfected, the “Micro Air Vehicle” will be marketed as Robo-Bee when it is to be used to do what bees do – pollinate crops. But this same insect-sized robot will also be marketed as a mini surveillance drone. The surveillance drone gets the not-so-nice name: Robo-Fly.
Look at it this way. When the robot is intended to secretly watch and, perhaps, eavesdrop on some unsuspecting victims, it gets a less flattering name like “fly.” Surveillance is useful but, today, has developed an ugly reputation. Don’t get me wrong, when a flying drone spies on “the enemy,” it’s okay. When it spies on my neighbor, it’s a subject for public debate. But, when it spies on me . . . it’s downright evil!
So the Micro Air Vehicle is a lovable Robo-Bee when it’s hard at work pollinating crops in our fields. But it is an unwelcome “Robo-Fly” when it’s looking over our shoulders and eavesdropping on our private lives.
So, that brings us back to Robo-Roach. What is this ‘bot going to do that is so bad that it earned it the name “cockroach?”
Well, it isn’t actually named “cockroach.” It’s called “roach,” but that’s only part of its name. Its full name is VelociRoACH. The “veloci” means speed, and that’s what it’s got. It’s fast. So, the “cockroach” name mystery is solved when you realize that cockroaches are very fast critters.
So, Robo-Roach isn’t about making an indestructible pest to replace the one humanity spends millions of dollars yearly to eliminate. It’s about imitating what the cockroach can do: run fast. The concept is biomimetic or what is sometimes called biomimicry.
“Biomimetics” is a term used to describe a methodology of approach to technological design: the development of technology designed to imitate and replicate the activities of biological systems and organisms. Some time ago, the term “bionic” was coined to describe a technology incorporating a “function copied from nature.” When Hollywood got a hold of the term “bionic,” the “Six Million Dollar Man” hit the small screen. Maybe Hollywood’s version of “bionics” was just too interesting to be seriously “scientific.” Whatever the reason, the term “bionic” fell into scientific oblivion.
The gap was filled by the term “biomimicry,” which has been widely adopted to describe any technology imitating (copied from) nature. Sometimes, biomimicry is more of a necessity than a choice. If you want robots that work like a biological organism, you’ll either have to imitate the organism or forget the project altogether.
The cardboard Robo-Roach or, rather, VelociRoACH was conceived by Duncan Haldane and his colleagues at UC Berkeley’s Biomimtic Millisystems Lab. This 4 inch-long robot “runs” at about 6 mph. For its size, it’s the fastest robot in the world.
Their real-life model? The American cockroach.
Why? That same cockroach is one of the fastest insects in the world.
But what about the evil, roach-like purpose for which this ‘bot is intended? Actually, VelociRoACH has no evilpurpose at all. It’s designed to be a search and rescue ‘bot.
Okay, but what’s with the “cardboard?”
Actually, the cardboard is one of this robot’s most important features. Haldane explained, “The idea is that we can build a huge number of very cheap, bio-inspired robots with remarkable mobility to quickly find people trapped in a disaster site.”
VelociRoACH is designed to go where human beings can’t in a disaster situation. The ‘bot is intended to assist in the location of the injured and provide information to assure the safety of rescue personnel. VelociRoACH’s C-shaped legs work like springs, just like those of a cockroach. With three of its six legs on the ground at all times, when it runs, the ‘bot remains remarkable stable. But it’s most interesting feat is the way it handles obstacles. It does just what a real roach does – it runs right into them -- head first. This throws the VelociRoACH back into an upright position from which it crawls right over the obstruction. This, by the way, is exactly how the real cockroach deals with obstacles.
Well, considering how useful our Robo-Roach will be, I guess we can tolerate at least one robot designed to imitate one of our less than favorite critters. At least, they didn’t design a Robo-Lizard.
Oh, wait. They did.
Same team. Different day.
“Clash” is a 4 inch, six-legged robot with a tail. It climbs near-vertical surfaces with the aid of a “gecko-inspired adhesive” on its feet. Observers agree. This ‘bot looks like a lizard.
The End?
M Grossmann of Hazelwood, Missouri & Belleville, Illinois
Of interest:
Cardboard cockroach ranks among world's fastest robots
Robotic cockroach faster than the real thing
VelociRoACH: A tiny robotic cockroach with a need for speed
VelociRoACH: A Tiny, Super-Fast Robot Cockroach Made from Cardboard That Can Save Lives
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