Robotic Tentacles
Wanting to expand the grasping ability of modern robots, US researchers have developed an interesting new technology. Known as “Octarms”, these tentacle-like attachments seem to resemble an octopus’s limb or an elephant’s trunk and can grasp and grapple with a wide variety of objects. These tentacles can be attached to current robots to perform a much wider range of actions than the previous method of robotic grasping (mechanical jaws) ever could.
“Just like a real tentacle, an Octarm simply wraps itself around an object in order to manoeuvre it. This allows it to grasp objects of various sizes and shapes and could let robots deal with unpredictable real-world situations, the researchers say.”
The article actually goes on to say that the robotic tentacles could one day be used to create a robotic octopus or even a backpack with extra limbs. Does this sound familiar to anyone?
link - NewScientist [Thanks Evan]
http://www.rockettubes.net/bryanwilkinson/ZimSpiderPakangle1.jpg
Invader Zim anyone?
Comment by Bogus — May 10, 2006 @
this is nothing like doc ock because oc ocks tentacle are more like your spine and can move independantly at each piont in the armature
Comment by Dacksoldier — May 11, 2006 @
Take out the YouTube video and host it yourself with a link to the video instead of embedding it in the page
Comment by Stalker — May 12, 2006 @
@stalker: why? This makes the video easily viewable and saves me money on bandwidth. Plus streams from youtube are MUCH faster than downloading the video anywhere else. Do you have any reason for your statement?
Comment by leadingzero — May 12, 2006 @
A link to the youtube video would work just as well.
:| It’s harsh on dial uppers… We arent extinct yet!
Great stuff though. Are these remote controlled or programmed?
Comment by Jack — May 12, 2006 @
controling a robotic backpack would be a bitch
Comment by RiRi — May 14, 2006 @
@6: you mean ‘awesome’, right?
Comment by leadingzero — May 15, 2006 @
The obvious use of course is Hentai. :-p But seriously, this would be great for intersolar exploration. It could both vaccuum up dust on mars to later analyse it and move rocks in its way.
Comment by allaun — May 16, 2006 @
I want one. No, wait, scratch that. I want twelve.
A robo-octopus would be awesome. Especially if it could travetl through water. An excellent alternative to the current deep-sea exploration bots.
Comment by Rybec — May 21, 2006 @
Are these things waterproof enough for Japanese girls’ school shower room yet?
Comment by roue — February 4, 2007 @
I’ve never been so hard in my life.
If they ever sell those in gift packs with digital cameras, we’ll know that there is, indeed, a God.
Comment by gadiv — June 20, 2007 @