Smelly robot eats flies to generate its own power

Reuters via msnbc ^ | 09/08/2004 | staff

[BJClinton]

Updated: 1:17 p.m. ET Sept. 8, 2004LONDON - British scientists are developing a robot that will generate its own power by eating flies.

The idea is to produce electricity by catching flies and digesting them in special fuel cells that will break down sugar in the insects' skeletons and release electrons that will drive an electric current.

[BJClinton]

It would work well anywhere Michael Moore is present.

[CzarNicky]

Why would anyone make a robot democrat?

[Legion04]

GOREBOT

[RightWingAtheist]

It'd still smell better than Mikey.

[Tijeras_Slim]

You could sue for copyright violation. :)

[linear]

"Come into my parlour, said the robot to the fly..."

[DannyTN]

"Why would anyone make a robot democrat?"

"Eat Flies"....not "Speak Lies"

[Old Sarge]

I suppose it was dubbed, "The Renfield Project"?

[hiramknight]

don't let PETA get wind of this

[vollmond]

Great, robots that hunt and devour biomass to power themselves.

[BenLurkin]

I have a bad feeling about this . . .

[BJClinton]

Great, robots that hunt and devour biomass to power themselves

Yeah, but for now we can use them as a source of humor. Now, when the robots write a book called "To Serve Man" or some such I'll get worried.

[TigersEye]

Who wrote "I Robot?" Hmmmmm?

[martin_fierro]

More like Usurpation of Likeness.

< |:)~™

[Shryke]

Smelly robot eats flies to generate its own power

I had to ping you guys to this truly special headline. I can hardly believe we've finally developed a robotic.......frog.

BEEBER to the SAF list!

SAF is the Smart A$$ed Freeper list, dedicated to levity. Please email me to be on or off.

[Notforprophet]

I for one welcome our new fly-eating overlords.

NFP

[NewJerseyJoe]

Interesting. This is similar to an idea from a 1974 sci-fi story by Isaac Asimov called "That Thou Art Mindful of Him." One of the robots in the story is a small robotic bird whose only function is to catch a certain species of fly and dispose of them. But the ending throws the reader for a loop.

Here's some info on the story: That Thou Art Mindful of Him

[T Minus Four]

...special fuel cells that will break down sugar in the insects' skeletons...

Shhhh! Don't tell the Atkins folks about this!

[Willie Green]

This article has more detailed info: Fly-eating robot takes first slow steps towards danger zone

[PBRSTREETGANG]

I for one welcome our new fly-eating overlords.

Doesn't sound terribly different than the Clinton Administration.