Humanoid robots are the new factor for the time being and enterprise capitalists are frothing over demos of these robots doing karate or no matter. However whereas humanoid robots do make sense for a lot of conditions, they’re type of boring. So, I’m dropping one thing extra intriguing into your information feed: this loopy robotic that appears like some type of cyberpunk caterpillar.
That is Porcospino Flex and it was created by Nodehi et al on the College of Genoa. The white paper has a bunch of fancy language describing how such a robotic might show helpful throughout many industries. However let’s be actual; no person cares about any of that and we’re simply right here as a result of the factor seems to be wild. It’s bristling with spines and brings to thoughts some type of outsized alien parasite.
The paper actually says {that a} porcupine and a millipede have been sources of inspiration for the design.
That unusual look is all in service of its perform, which is crawling round within the mud. Consider it like a giant 3D-printed tank monitor with lengthy studs for traction. To show, it tightens cables that trigger one facet to contract and the entire physique to curve.
Porcospino Flex runs below the management of a Raspberry Pi 4 Mannequin B single-board laptop, which drives the tank monitor and steering cable winches with Micromotors RH158 brushed gearmotors.
In idea, this robotic must be good at navigating by tight areas. That would make it supreme for duties like inspecting sewage pipes. It is usually fairly good at traversing uneven terrain, so it is perhaps appropriate for search and rescue operations in collapsed buildings or mines.
However my suspicion is that Nodehi et al. simply needed an excuse to make a robotic that appears like a caterpillar from an android’s nightmares.