In preparation of welcoming our new robotic overlords, scientists at Seoul National University in South Korea have developed a robot that, at some point in the future, could power itself by eating organic material. Modeling the robot on the Venus Flytrap, scientists made use of different materials to set the ball rolling.
A clamshell-shaped piece of carbon fiber acts as the leaves and works with a shape-memory metal spring to detect the presence of, and capture insects nearby. As the bug lands on the robot, the material bends, creating a very small amount of voltage.
This voltage is then used to trigger a much larger power source that makes the robot snap shut, trapping the insect. Future modifications could include having the robot use bioenergy from the trapped insect to power itself. An army of robots feeding off organic matter is all we need to make the future all rosy and pink.
Via NewScientist
