Our Robo-Insect Overlords Won't Walk on Water, They'll Hop

PatrickJS

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Jun 8, 2015
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Our Robo-Insect Overlords Won't Walk on Water, They'll Hop



An international team of scientists have created a robot that can walk and jump on water.

I, for one, welcome our water-walking robot overlords [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/141680-Robot-velociraptor-concierge-welcomes-you-to-the-best-hotel-ever-in-southern-Japan].

Robotic engineers from Harvard and Seoul National University have made an incredible leap forward in robot design: bots that can float, walk, and even hop across the water's surface [http://wyss.harvard.edu/viewpressrelease/210/].

Foolish scientists - water was our one defense!

The team was inspired by water striders, the fascinating insect that glides in short bursts across lakes, ponds, and other still bodies of water. Taking a close look at how the bugs move inspired the design of the robot.

Water striders are equipped with special hairs on their feet, called microsetae, that trap air to create a sort of "cushion" that they float on. To move, the striders twist their curved feet with at a specific angle, with just less than the force it would take to break the water's surface tension.

If these insect-inspired droids get out of hand, at least we'll know how to stop them [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/141443-Spiders-Use-Sail-the-Seven-Seas-and-Oceans-Like-Sailboats].

You can see how the engineers replicated the unique insect in the video below:

[Vimeo=134758296]

So there you go! If you find yourself by a lake sometime this summer, you can regale your friends with some water strider trivia. They'll love it, I'm sure.

Source: CNet [http://www.cnet.com/au/news/these-robot-bugs-dont-just-walk-on-water-they-jump-on-it/]

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FalloutJack

Bah weep grah nah neep ninny bom
Nov 20, 2008
15,489
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I think we'd rather our robot apocalyptians be on the surface of the water than under it. Mostly so we can SEE THEM.
 

WhiteTigerShiro

New member
Sep 26, 2008
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Cripes, Tomorrowland was right. We can't even talk about amazing breakthroughs in technology without talking about how it's going to destroy us in the end (even if it is tongue-in-cheek).
 

Adam Jensen_v1legacy

I never asked for this
Sep 8, 2011
6,651
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We've been living in a world where robots can do more than Jesus for quite some time. This is just the next hilarious step.
 

bdcjacko

Gone Fonzy
Jun 9, 2010
2,371
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Adam Jensen said:
We've been living in a world where robots can do more than Jesus for quite some time. This is just the next hilarious step.
Until robots can make water into wine, I don't think robots are worth it.