DARPA puts out call for shape-shifting 'ChemBots'

Well this is just great. One of our few remaining advantages over the robots who wish to enslave us -- the ability to run away and cower in an inaccessible location -- may soon be gone forever, if DARPA's bid for softball-sized, morphing 'ChemBots' proves successful. The government's mad scientist wing wants proposals for a soft, flexible bot that is able to collapse down to a tenth of its original size, crawl through a one centimeter opening at a quarter of a meter per hour minute, and bulk back up to its original size in under 15 seconds. Think you're up for the challenge? White papers are due on May 3rd of this year, and since liquid metal robots won't be feasible until about the year 2029, interested parties better get cracking.

[Via The Raw Feed]

[Henry @ Apr 3rd 2007 11:22PM]

"A mimetic polyalloy: liquid metal."

[angelsvairwaves1 @ Apr 3rd 2007 11:32PM]

thats just ridiculously impossible. what would they use it for anyway? nothing...

[hp540 @ Apr 3rd 2007 11:33PM]

clearly the obvious use would be to send it back in time to kill John Connor.

[steve-o @ Apr 3rd 2007 11:39PM]

"crawl through a one centimeter opening at a quarter of a meter per hour" Dang, I'll have to find a way to slow this thing down a bit..

[LordFarkward @ Apr 3rd 2007 11:51PM]

ya, it's cool and all, but will it blend?

http://www.YetAnotherUselessPostForYetAnotherUselessAdvertisingOfStupidWebsites.AreYouShameless.com

[Court K. @ Apr 4th 2007 2:45AM]

Actually this is ridiculously easy. I can't believe DARPA is asking for submission unless they are trying to check their own work. This seemly problematic design is very, very easy. Don't over think the problem.

[RC @ Apr 4th 2007 7:24AM]

@ Court K.: Actually this is ridiculously easy. I can't believe DARPA is asking for submission unless they are trying to check their own work. This seemly problematic design is very, very easy. Don't over think the problem.

Easy? OK, so how would you do it and when is your white paper going off to DARPA?

[rodvsewell @ Apr 4th 2007 5:23AM]

Ever thought the government might want to squeeze under your door to see what's going on without you knowing?? Naahh,, not in the land of Freedom,,,

[Ignacio @ Apr 4th 2007 9:03AM]

"Easy? OK, so how would you do it and when is your white paper going off to DARPA?"

Not sure if this was the original poster's idea but: an inflatable, 10 cm diameter balloon with a 1cm, caterpillar-like robot that can inflate-deflate the balloon as needed.

Well, at least that would seem to fulfill the requirements of the *summary* of the task posted here...

:-D

[cade @ Apr 4th 2007 11:07AM]

"crawl through a one centimeter opening at a quarter of a meter per hour, and bulk back "

the article states a quarter of a meter per minute not hour...

[mastershake @ Apr 4th 2007 1:53PM]

There are several military needs for this. The most likely is to squeeze under a door then roll around looking at stuff before our soliders have to risk thier lives entering the room. But explodo bot's crawling thier asses into small openings then regrouping into larger munitions would be fun.

[mastershake @ Apr 4th 2007 1:59PM]

and of course lets not forget crawling around ruble like the trade center disaster looking fo survivors.

Of course all the "smart" people out there now it so that they can spy on us. "Fire can't melt steel" Really? Hey Rosie How does one make steel?? I point you to millions of steel workers and welders of the world who are some how magically melting steel with fire. Or maybe they all work for the CIA.

[Whatsizface @ Apr 10th 2007 3:20PM]

Did someone say Fembots?

No? Oh well.

Schwing baby! Yeah!