The ATRON shape-shifting robot
posted November 18th 2004 7:15AM
Scientists at the Maersk Institute in Denmark have invented a prototype for a shape-shifting robot composed of
individual spherical modules which can join together in any number of different shapes and combinations (please, no
Terminator 2 jokes, ok?). Each of the modules on the ATRON, as it's called, has its own onboard computer and
can operately independently of the others, and the big idea is that it can change shape in order change how it gets
around, so it's able to walk, roll, or even slither depending on the circumstances and terrain. We'd mumble something
about the whole idea of little robots joining together to make a larger robot being swiped from Voltron, but ATRON is
actually a lot more flexible in the number of modules that can be joined together and the shapes that can result. And
also the modules are less lion-shaped.
[Via Near Near Future]
the best thing to happen to the robot porn industry in ages!
mad props for all the 80s cartoon references lately
Fine, no Star Trek references... So I'll make a StarGate SG1 reference.... it's the replicators!
sly robot. w00t for the 80s references!
I have had a similar idea for about a year but no funding. in my model there would be specialty modules for special tasks - like hands, etc. and every module would have sensors to detect pressure, etc.
anyone have some money to spare?
where's the little video clip that shows this thing running it's way about?