‘RHex’ is a robot designed after the physiology of a cockroach. It is being used to study the organic movements of insects and how they are able to successfully navigate their extremely variable environment.
http://cdn.physorg.com/newman/gfx/news/2004/Red_RHex.jpg
Another model of ‘RHex” captured in action attempting to climb a ledge.
http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/uofaengineer/images/caterpillar.jpg
It is a simple but interesting question: How do animals move without falling over? Believe it or not, the National Science Foundation is spending millions of dollars to research this very question! The top biologists, engineers and mathematicians in their respective fields are converging to tackle this very puzzle. Researchers from UC Berkley, University of Michigan and Princeton are focusing on a robot that they have constructed called “RHex”. RHex is supposed to simulate the movement of a cockroach as it speedily moves across variable terrain.
As stated before, the general physiology of the robot will mimic that of a cockroach. Although the basic design will follow a blue print provided by nature, the scientists will also conduct biochemical and neurological experiments on similar organisms to develop mathematical models that they can use to more effectively program the robot. After all, the construction of a robot does not simply rely on the engineers who build the physical body. A project like this requires scientists with multiple expertises. For example, Robert Full is a biologist who has studied animal locomotion for over 30 years. Dr. Full is therefore able to interpret the motions of animals so that the engineers can create a body to recreate similar motions. An important aspect still missing though. We may have the robotic body, but what is going to make it move?! That is where the mathematicians come in. They must create the mathematical models that form the basis of the programming that runs these slick ‘organo-bots’.
While this is a very interesting study, it might leave you wondering why the study is done in the first place. What is the point in trying to robotically replicate the motions of animals? Well, there are a few answers to that question. The first answer and the answer that Dr. Full would probably provide, is that by replicating the motions of animals we are able to better understand how and why certain animals move the way they do. If scientists are able to program and experiment with different formulas and programs to replicate animal motion, then they will be able to better understand the fundamental driving processes behind the motions manifested in nature. By studying animal motion we may also be able to construct useful robots for the future. What if the next Mars rover didn’t have wheels, and instead scurried around the surface of the planet with six agile cockroach legs?! The future for studies such as these is quite ambiguous because of how much there is to learn, but there is an exciting future full of possibilities and opportunity!
Vocabulary
Variable: Changing
Terrain: Ground
Mimic: Copy
Neurological: Having to do with nerves or the nervous system.
Manifested: Shown, observable
Ambiguous: Unclear
PHYSORG. Ed. John Benson, Andrew Zinin, Alexander Pol, and Candace Ganger. N.p., 16 Sept. 2004. Web. 11 Apr. 2011.
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