Seahorse Tails Could Inspire New Generation of Robots 15
An anonymous reader writes: Researchers at Clemson University have studied the makeup of seahorse tails and rendered its mechanics using 3D-printing in an effort to provide flexibility to stiff robots. Unlike most creatures, seahorse's tail is made of square prisms. Michael Porter, assistant professor in mechanical engineering at Clemson University said, "Almost all animal tails have circular or oval cross-sections—but not the seahorse's. We wondered why. We found that the squared-shaped tails are better when both grasping and armor functions are needed."
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You could always sign up.
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Do robots have new generations? (Score:2)
What was the defining characteristic of the old generation?
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According to this, round squishy tails.
I must have missed those ones though
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I'm pretty sure there's a market for that kind of toys in Japan.
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What was the defining characteristic of the old generation?
I think they specify this [rtoz.org] due to "the new approaches created to surgery, search and rescue missions or industrial applications" as per article published.
Just wondering (Score:2)
Why do robots need tails anyway?
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The interest is in the physical mechanism used for retaining both flexibility and resistance to crushing, not in the fact that it's a tail. You could design robotic arms that are both flexible and have a protective outer shell, for instance.
Inspire robots (Score:4, Funny)
This is good. Because the last generation of robots was just sitting around, unmotivated and depressed. (Marvin, I'm talking to you.)
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This is good. Because the last generation of robots was just sitting around, unmotivated and depressed. (Marvin, I'm talking to you.)
Marvin was quite mobile.