Future
Robots
Sure, you're familiar with the Honda ASIMO and perhaps even the
Toyota humanoid robot, but there are a few future robots operating
right now that you may not be familiar with.
For instance do you know about the MAVs, Chembot, Snakebot, Flossie,
A-Pod, WR-07, Robotic Chair, EATR and Rex? Perhaps one of the future
inventions you don't know about is a robotic surgery machine
that has already been created.
And then there is the whole emerging field of nanorobotics that
will one day work wonders in the medical field. In fact, some have
been created now. But, let's start with what we know about.
MAVs are small flying robots used for military surveillance. Micro-Aerial
Vehicles or MAVs can be fixed wing, flapping or rotary style and
are not unlike hobby RC aircraft.
The iRobot ChemBot was developed for the military to fit through
extremely small openings in complex environments. The Chembot has
no wheels and is extremely soft and flexible.
The Snakebot is a snake robot that slithers across the ground developed
for use in search and rescue operations. Another use is to put the
Snakebot on other planets to collect data during space missions.
Flossie is a vehicle testing robot designed to ride long hours
in extreme heat and other inhumane conditions. It was developed
to test Castrol oil operating in two and three wheel vehicles.
The Zenta A-Pod (inventor of hexapods) is a 6-legged robot with
huge mandibles and can do a number of tricks. Some of the activities
it can perform include climbing a rope and pouring a glass of water.
Hemji Soft Japan has created the WR-07 which is a real transformer
like in the movies. It can change itself from car to robot and back
again.
Max Dean invented the Robotic Chair that is a simple enough looking
wooden structure like many others we sit upon every day. Designed
as a piece of art intended as social comment, the Robotic Chair
can break apart, pull its pieces together and erect itself back
into the original shape.
EATR (Energetically Autonomous Tactical Robot) can feed on biomass,
gasoline, diesel and coal and is designed to carry heavy loads.
It can transport fuel and weapons to places inaccessible to human
beings.
Israel Aircraft Industries developed Rex to also carry heavy loads
of up to 400 lbs in military operations. Rex provides logistical
support and can operate up to 72 hours straight.
Of course there are an assortment of fighting robots, space robots
and many other kinds of robots that have been used for years. Robotic
limbs are being developed now. But what does the future hold?
Well, some of the most exciting future robots are the nanobots
I had spoken about earlier. These tiny nanorobots will range in
size from 0.1-10 micrometers and will be used in both the medical
industry and environmental fields. One such "car" using
buckyballs for wheels has been developed for regulating environmental
temperatures.
Nanobots someday will take over the medical field by performing
surgery on cancer cells, polyps and taking samples. Medical nanorobots
will also give targeted delivery of drugs to specific regions of
the body.
Nanobots are in development now to be used for early diagnosis,
treatment and monitoring of many different conditions and diseases.
Moving among living cells these future robots will be able to be
controlled and monitored by humans and move due to catalytic reactions
within the body.
This is just an overview of the future robots to come. Many more
are in development but have not been shared with the public yet.
These future robots are either of military use or commercial use
by companies who have proprietary technology and want to avoid competition.
No matter what, though, this is just the beginning of seeing future
robots integrated into the world in which we live.
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