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Smelly robot eats flies to generate its own power
Reuters via msnbc ^ | 09/08/2004 | staff

Posted on 09/09/2004 7:45:09 AM PDT by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: ecobot; environment; flies; robot; robotics; technology
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To: martin_fierro; Tijeras_Slim; Shryke
I foresee no problems whatsoever...

21 posted on 09/09/2004 8:28:07 AM PDT by TheBigB ("As God is my witness...I thought turkeys could fly.")
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To: BJClinton

I, for one, welcome our new fly-killing, Robot Overlords.


22 posted on 09/09/2004 8:32:16 AM PDT by Blzbba (John F'in Kerry - Dawn of a New Error.)
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To: Notforprophet

See post #22. Great minds watch the Simpsons, apparently.

:)


23 posted on 09/09/2004 8:33:29 AM PDT by Blzbba (John F'in Kerry - Dawn of a New Error.)
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To: TheBigB

Funny. A poster about deadly frogs features......two gators.


24 posted on 09/09/2004 8:42:57 AM PDT by Shryke (Never retreat. Never explain. Get it done and let them howl.)
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To: BJClinton
OK. It "digests" the flies for power. There is another product of digestion: waste. Do we really want a robot that poops?

I can see it now. Three doors along a hallway: "Men's Room", "Women's Room", "Robot's Room". C3P0 walks out of the "Robot's Room" and declares ala Ace Ventura: "DO NOT GO IN THERE! PHEWWWW!!!"

25 posted on 09/09/2004 8:44:29 AM PDT by Reaganesque
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To: Reaganesque

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

LOL!

There goes coffee out my nose. Thanks.... :)


26 posted on 09/09/2004 8:49:04 AM PDT by Ueriah
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To: Shryke

Maybe the artist went to UF. :P


27 posted on 09/09/2004 8:54:38 AM PDT by Constantine XIII
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To: Ueriah

Come...on...pull...my...finger...ha...ha...ha...

28 posted on 09/09/2004 8:55:10 AM PDT by Reaganesque
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To: Blzbba

HAIL FLIES!


29 posted on 09/09/2004 9:07:00 AM PDT by Arthur McGowan
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To: BJClinton

NOW there is the germ of thought for a mosquito eating machine... The thought of a machine eating mosquitos in the back yard all night run by the energy generated by the mosquitos themselves is too much to expect.. and if it Purr'ed too like cat so much the better.. The mosquitos have been living off us for way too long..


30 posted on 09/09/2004 9:28:55 AM PDT by hosepipe (This propaganda has been edited to include some fully orbed hyperbole....)
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To: BJClinton

What was the name of the first guy Dracula (Bella Lagosi) ensnares to assist him in the original Dracula movie? All I can come up with is "Renfrew" I'm pretty sure that's wrong. (For the younger set, this guy eats insects throughout the movie)


31 posted on 09/09/2004 10:09:19 AM PDT by elephantlips
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To: elephantlips

Renfield?


32 posted on 09/09/2004 10:25:26 AM PDT by Titan Magroyne (Cha! I am SO not an aggressive driver! Merely a pro-active one.)
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To: BenLurkin
I have a bad feeling about this . . .

Having a Soylent Green moment??

33 posted on 09/09/2004 10:30:06 AM PDT by ErnBatavia ("Dork"; a 60's term for a 60's kinda guy: JFK)
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To: NewJerseyJoe
 

NIV Psalms 8:3-4
 3.  When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
 4.  what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?
 
 
NIV Hebrews 2:6
   But there is a place where someone has testified: "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?
 

34 posted on 09/09/2004 10:40:52 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
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To: T Minus Four
...that will break down sugar...

They don't taste sweet when I eat them!

35 posted on 09/09/2004 10:41:46 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
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To: Elsie

36 posted on 09/09/2004 12:49:07 PM PDT by T Minus Four (From the Holy City of Hill Air Force Base, Utah)
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To: ErnBatavia
Well . . .

. . .yeah!


37 posted on 09/09/2004 3:40:44 PM PDT by BenLurkin (We have low inflation and and low unemployment.)
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To: Titan Magroyne

Renfield = Dracula's minion, whose diet was flies and other crawlies. At least in the Bela Lugosi version.


38 posted on 09/09/2004 4:06:46 PM PDT by ExGeeEye ("It says 'Romans Go Home'!" "No it doesn't.")
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To: BJClinton

Related Story:

The Saskatewan Fly Eating Robot energy sector signs agreement to supply $35 Billion worth of electrical power to California.


39 posted on 09/09/2004 5:31:14 PM PDT by beaver fever
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To: vollmond
Great, robots that hunt and devour biomass to power themselves.

Couple of mutations and life on Earth is toast!

Someone is mixing Science Fiction and Horror movies. "Come along, Borg! You old fly-eater you!"

40 posted on 09/09/2004 5:33:37 PM PDT by VadeRetro
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