Bye Swarmbots, Hello Swarmanoids

[Ian David]

By Emmet Cole| Also by this reporter
02:00 AM Nov, 28, 2006

Move over swarm-bots, the swarmanoid is coming.

A team at the Free University of Brussels in Belgium is embarking on a 42-month research project to build and test a 60-strong swarm of small, autonomous robots -- the swarmanoid -- capable of collaborating in 3-D environments.

The swarmanoid initiative follows the successful completion of the swarm-bots project, in which the researchers demonstrated the ability of identical robots to work in formations to overcome challenges such as carrying heavy objects and traveling across rough terrain -- tasks that a single swarm-bot could not accomplish alone.

The $3.5 million project will feature footbots, handbots and eyebots, said Marco Dorigo, research director at the university's IRIDIA lab.

The three types of bots will join forces to create a swarmanoid and perform various jobs. The footbots will transport objects on the ground level, while handbots with specialized climbing and grappling features take to the walls. Some eyebots equipped with visual sensors will operate attached to the ceiling, overseeing the action below and feeding information to their robotic colleagues; others will fly.

More:
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,72176-0.html?tw=rss.index

[leveymg]

1. Brilliant. We've invented the cockroach. eom

[Geoff R. Casavant]

2. ROFL!

Thanks for the unexpected chuckle!