Thursday, September 8, 2011

New Scientist TV: Born to be Viral: Robot octopus shakes your hand

New Scientist TV: Born to be Viral: Robot octopus shakes your hand: The team designed the tentacle by using computer models derived from measurements of real octopuses in the lab. Then they created the artificial limb from soft rubber embedded with artificial muscle fibres, allowing it to flex or stretch when an electric potential is applied. It's also equipped with contact sensors, placed under the surface, that detect an object in its reach...
The researchers also plan to improve the tentacle's sensing system by copying the way receptors in muscles detect the motion or position of a limb. By incorporating this feedback, the arm should grasp objects more precisely.

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