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Scientists use stem cells from frogs to build first living robots
The Guardian ^
| 01/13/2020
| Ian Sample
Posted on 01/15/2020 7:50:28 AM PST by BenLurkin
Researchers in the US have created the first living machines by assembling cells from African clawed frogs into tiny robots that move around under their own steam.
One of the most successful creations has two stumpy legs that propel it along on its chest. Another has a hole in the middle that researchers turned into a pouch so it could shimmy around with miniature payloads.
Roboticists tend to favour metal and plastic for their strength and durability, but Levin and his colleagues see benefits in making robots from biological tissues. When damaged, living robots can heal their wounds, and once their task is done they fall apart, just as natural organisms decay when they die.
The robots, which are less than 1mm long, are designed by an evolutionary algorithm that runs on a supercomputer. The program starts by generating random 3D configurations of 500 to 1,000 skin and heart cells. Each design is then tested in a virtual environment, to see, for example, how far it moves when the heart cells are set beating. The best performers are used to spawn more designs, which themselves are then put through their paces.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
TOPICS: Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: cryptobiology; frogs; helixmakemineadouble; robots; stemcells
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1
posted on
01/15/2020 7:50:28 AM PST
by
BenLurkin
To: BenLurkin
What could possibly go wrong?
2
posted on
01/15/2020 7:51:08 AM PST
by
dfwgator
(Endut! Hoch Hech!)
To: SunkenCiv
Ping...
..
3
posted on
01/15/2020 7:51:11 AM PST
by
BenLurkin
(The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire. Or both.)
To: BenLurkin
Isn’t this how Jurassic Park got into trouble?
4
posted on
01/15/2020 7:56:21 AM PST
by
Oratam
To: BenLurkin
I saw this movie.
It doesn’t end well for humanity...................
5
posted on
01/15/2020 7:56:54 AM PST
by
Red Badger
(Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain.......... ..)
To: Oratam
6
posted on
01/15/2020 7:57:52 AM PST
by
dfwgator
(Endut! Hoch Hech!)
To: BenLurkin
7
posted on
01/15/2020 7:59:49 AM PST
by
fishtank
(The denial of original sin is the root of liberalism.)
To: dfwgator; BenLurkin
"I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream" - - Harlan Ellison
8
posted on
01/15/2020 8:00:12 AM PST
by
GOPJ
(Glacier National Park removed signs warning glaciers will be gone by 2020 (ten year old sign))
To: dfwgator
Cue Rutger Haur crying in the rain.
9
posted on
01/15/2020 8:01:32 AM PST
by
Sirius Lee
(They are openly stating that they intend to murder us. Prep if you want to live.)
To: dfwgator
I, for one, welcome our new frog robot overlords.
10
posted on
01/15/2020 8:03:18 AM PST
by
Jewbacca
(The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem)
To: Jewbacca
FrogBot. A ribbot, as one might say...
11
posted on
01/15/2020 8:07:14 AM PST
by
Army Air Corps
(Four Fried Chickens and a Coke)
To: BenLurkin
Vere ish John Connah.....
To: GOPJ
I can relate when I have fix a printer at the office or my wife’s.
Printers are perfect and unblemished and almost holy to some people.
13
posted on
01/15/2020 8:16:36 AM PST
by
wally_bert
(Your methods were a little incomplete, you too for that matter.)
To: Army Air Corps
Robo-Frog: the future of whatever frogs excel at.
14
posted on
01/15/2020 8:17:52 AM PST
by
wally_bert
(Your methods were a little incomplete, you too for that matter.)
To: BenLurkin
15
posted on
01/15/2020 8:19:24 AM PST
by
Pilgrim's Progress
(http://www.baptistbiblebelievers.com/BYTOPICS/tabid/335/Default.aspx D)
To: Oratam
I was thinking “Pacific Rim: Uprising” meets “Jurassic Park”.
16
posted on
01/15/2020 8:22:07 AM PST
by
kaboom
To: dfwgator
17
posted on
01/15/2020 8:26:47 AM PST
by
BipolarBob
(DNC: The party of pernicious knids, wangdoodles and hornswogglers.)
To: BenLurkin
When damaged, living robots can heal their wounds, and once their task is done they fall apart, just as natural organisms decay when they die.
...
Liquid metal robots are better. I saw it in a movie.
18
posted on
01/15/2020 8:32:02 AM PST
by
Moonman62
(Charity comes from wealth.)
To: BenLurkin
Isn’t that how Jurassic Park started to have problems?
19
posted on
01/15/2020 8:32:39 AM PST
by
SunkenCiv
(Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
To: Army Air Corps
FrogBot is never going to be a truly independent creature without neural cells though. He’ll always be just a toadie.
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