Robots: From Animals to Automation

Posted 3 Jul 2009 at 14:12 UTC (updated 4 Jul 2009 at 15:22 UTC) by mwaibel

Over the past years the Bionic Learning Network, a consortium of universities, institutes and development companies run by German automation giant Festo, has been turning out impressive robotic artifacts. Festo thinks of robots like the AquaPenguin, AquaRay and AquaJelly pictured above as technology demonstrators that help identify bionic principles. These principles in turn may be applicable in their next generation of automation products. In the latest episode of the Robots podcast, Markus Fischer, head of the Bionic Learning Network project and head of Festo's Corporate Design explains how Festo transfers technologies from biomimetic research to actual products. In the second part of this episode Victor Zykov, very well known for his work on Resilient Introspective Machines with Hod Lipson, talks more about the role of bio-inspiration as well as his favorite topic, modular robots. Zykov explains his work on his bio-inspired Molecubes (see some previous posts), and tells us how Festo may use modular robots to construct the adaptable factories of the future. Tune in!

That monster's gonna give me nightnmares., posted 9 Jul 2009 at 17:18 UTC by MDude » (Journeyer)

Does anyone else think that unfinished AquaPenguin looks like it could fit right in with some kind of horror game, like Silent Hill?

Also, I really like the look of the AirRay.