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Amoeba-inspired ChIMERA robot slithers on video

February 3rd, 2010

Amoeba-inspired ChIMERA robot slithers on video

Virginia Tech’s RoMeLa has done more than its fair share to further the development of our future robot overlords. Now, in a recent TED talk, Dr. Dennis Hong brings us up to date on some of the creepier candidates for world domination, including the spider-like STRiDER and the amoeboid ChIMERA (Chemically Induced Motion Everting Robotic Amoeba). The latter achieves locomotion by the movement of its silicone skin, squeezes through spaces half its diameter, and travels up to half a meter per second. The good doctor is tight-lipped on much of the device’s specifics, but among options being explored for powering the thing are chemical actuation, electroactive polymers, and air-driven tubes. Check out the team’s work in the video after the break.

[Thanks, Travis]

Continue reading Amoeba-inspired ChIMERA robot slithers on video

Amoeba-inspired ChIMERA robot slithers on video originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted in Computers and Technology, Engadget |

Tags: Break, Diameter, Dr Dennis, Electroactive Polymers, Engadget, Fair Share, Good Doctor, Nbsp, Overlords, Robot, Silicone, Slithers, Specifics, Strider, Ted, tight, Travis, Tubes, Virginia Tech, World Domination |

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Tweeting from the field: Sports meet social media

October 26th, 2009

Tweeting from the field: Sports meet social media

Social media, for all its downfalls, has proven to be a powerful tool for organizations to interact directly with customers and fans. This is especially true for athletes, musicians, and other celebrities—people love communicating directly with their favorite icons via Twitter and Facebook. The celebrities seem to enjoy it, too. Just look at the camaraderie that THE_REAL_SHAQ (Shaquille O’Neal) has built on Twitter. Even I follow him, and I don’t care about basketball anymore.

Unfortunately for professional athletes, their respective sports leagues haven’t always been receptive to this whole social media “thing.” Like many corporate overlords, some sports leagues have run screaming from the idea of allowing their assets—that is, the players—to tell the world what’s going on right this minute, especially if this minute is happening during a game or at a team’s facility.

Other leagues, however, have embraced the world of social media as a way to generate more interest and ultimately a larger fanbase. Which American sports leagues get it, and which need to be hit with a social networking clue-by-four?