Biomechatronics researchers at Bielefeld University, Germany have come up with a bot called Hector that is inspired from stick insect, another invention in the field of biomimicry. The insect bot has six limbs with an ability of functioning independently. The embedded sensors help it in reacting autonomously to its external setting and accordingly assist in learning from experience.
Only for research platform
Jan Paskarbeit, the developer envisions Hector in areas like testing animal locomotion theories. The bot however, is not designed with an intention of severing humans in areas like sewers or likewise but it has been fabricated for the better understanding of locomotion especially that is involved with six legs. Its elastic joints take the role of muscles while of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic has been used for its super light exoskeleton.
Like its biological counterpart
Its legs are independent of each other which make its locomotion comfortable even in rough terrain. A camera system is being fabricated for the insect bot for delivering surrounding pictures so that Hector can see like a real stick insect. Along with this, feelers too are being added to its subsequent prototype, which would assist it in recognizing hurdles by sensing like its biological counterpart.
Although the insect bot, Hector, is designed only for research platform but it looks quite promising in areas like exploration, rescue and transportation sectors. No sooner, we would be witnessing these creepy crawler machines around such operations.
Source: Reuters
