TEDtalk Tuesday: 'Feets' of engineering

[Occulus]

For the first TEDTALKTUESDAY of 2008, we'll hear from a biologist at UC Berkeley whose specialty is the design of the foot, both in nature and in robotics. From running full speed across a wire mesh to climbing up a vertical wall, in this talk we learn about the 'how' and 'why' of efficient natural movement, and how those principles might be applied to the robotics of tomorrow.

Enjoy, and Happy New Year!

ROBERTFULL

Talk Title: Secrets of movement, from geckos and roaches (video runtime: 19:24)

This talk is also available for free download in 480p resolution.



Robert Full

Bio via the Poly-PEDAL lab at UC Berkeley

About this Talk

UC Berkeley biologist Robert Full shares his fascination with spiny cockroach legs that allow them to scuttle at full speed across loose mesh and gecko feet that have billions of nano-bristles to run straight up walls. His talk, complete with wonderful slow-mo video of cockroach, crab and gecko gaits, explains his goal of creating the perfect robotic "distributed foot."

[mahina]

1. Thanks, I love TED talks.

[Occulus]

2. This one is pretty interesting

The slow-motion shots of running critters are pretty cool, and he shows clips of squid showing the ability to learn by observation regarding movement, camouflage and so forth. The gecko foot explanation was awesome.

I'll never let ants crawl on food again, though. I want to avoid eating ant foot glue...

[mahina]

3. my fave: Hans rosling, Debunking third-world myths with the best stats you've ever seen

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/92

[Occulus]

4. Heh- that one was on my list, actually

:D

I never got around to posting it, though. That one is startling; it shows how much we "know" about "third-world" countries is actually pretty uninformed. It's a scale that's been trending positive over time, but you have to look at the big picture to see it.

[mahina]

5. Encouraging information, I guess that's why I like it so much.

I am so creeped out by roaches I just can barely bring myself to watch the original vid you posted, but will after I do a few chores around here. I'm sure it's super interesting. Gecko feet are amazing. There's so much to learn in the world, for sure. Mahalo for posting about TED.
Nice to meet you, aloha~!

[Occulus]

6. I'll now use my leg as a distributed foot

to kick this up top for the evening folks.