A bug's life

Hi, I'm a Scorpion, and I like long walks through the desert, overcoming challenges, and paving the way for simple robotic solutions. No, it's not a bizarre come-on line (though I'd be interested to see how it works, mail me if you try it and have

Hi, I'm a Scorpion, and I like long walks through the desert, overcoming challenges, and paving the way for simple robotic solutions. No, it's not a bizarre come-on line (though I'd be interested to see how it works, mail me if you try it and have any success), but is instead a brief description of a new robotics project being undertaken by the Northeastern University in Boston. Two researchers have been trying to tackle the problem of how to get a robot to traverse difficult terrain without needing remote directions, and they've decided that complex algorithms are old hat, and simple reflexes are the way to go.

Frank Kirchner and Alan Rudolph studied scorpion very closely, deciding that the way these arachnids negotiated tough terrain was a good model for a robot - that, and the simple nature of scorpion reflexes. More complex bots might get stymied by simple problems, whereas the scorpion bot that the two researcher will be soon testing in the Mojave Desert relies almost purely on reflexes to get it out of trouble. Two ultrasonic sensors will act as the bot's eyes, and it can avoid tall obstacles with ease, and easily compensate for problems like shifting rocks as it moves.

Naturally, the military is very interested in this technology, and the scorpion bot has already been tested in front of some very impressed uniforms. Similar bots could be used to scout out enemy positions in hostile territory, and in difficult terrain. Heaven forbid that soldiers should ever have to do this.
The Scorpion project