The Pentagon is Working on an ‘Attack-Proof’ Robotic Worm Called the ‘Meshworm’

Worm Robot

An ‘attack’ proof robotic worm? What will the government think of next?

The Pentagon has reportedly teamed up with a group of universities to develop a robotic worm that’s immune to attacks from, say, a sledgehammer. Dubbed as the ‘Meshworm’, the robot looks like a bunch of rolled-up electronics that work together to crawl and creep along like earthworms do.

So out of all the creatures they could’ve chosen to base their robot on, why’d they choose the earthworm? As they say, the structure “allows the machine to be made of soft materials so it can squeeze through tight spaces and mould its shape to rough terrain.” That’s scientific-speak for saying that the robot’s got potential to become an indestructible spy–but we’ll see.

Hit the jump to check out a clip of the Meshworm in action.

[ MIT ] VIA [ Geekologie ]


Researchers Create “Meshworm” Robot that Can’t Be Killed

Meshworm is the latest robotic creation from researchers at MIT, Harvard University and Seoul National University. You can try beating this earthworm-like robot with a mallet, but the thing just won’t die.

worm robot
This robot is made from “artificial muscle” made from a flexible mesh tube segmented by loops of nickel/titanium wire. The wire is there to contract and squeeze the tube when it is heated by a flowing current. When you cut the power, it returns to its original shape, creating propulsion just like a worm.

Not using traditional moving parts makes it pretty tough. Big surprise, DARPA has their hands in this project too, not that this worm would be good for gathering intel or helping soldiers.

It does however have potential medical applications, like making them into next-gen endoscopes or something.

While hitting it with a mallet or stepping on it didn’t kill the thing, blowing it up,  setting it on fire or drowning it just might do the trick.

[via Engadget]


Researchers create Meshworm robot, beat it up (video)

Researchers create Meshworm robot, beat it up (video)

We've seen a number of options for controlling real worms, but never a worm robot, until now. Enter Meshworm, the latest creation from researchers at MIT, Harvard University and Seoul National University. The bot is made from "artificial muscle" composed of a flexible mesh tube segmented by loops of nickel / titanium wire. The wire contracts and squeezes the tube when heated by a flowing current, but cut the power and it returns to its original shape, creating propulsion in a similar way to its living kin. Taking traditional moving parts out of the equation also makes it pretty hardy, as proven by extensive testing (read: hitting it with a hammer). DARPA is known for getting its fingers in all sorts of strange pies, and it also supported this project. We can't see it being the fastest way of gathering intel, but the potential medical applications, such as next-gen endoscopes, sound plausible enough. Full impact tests in the video after the break.

Continue reading Researchers create Meshworm robot, beat it up (video)

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Researchers create Meshworm robot, beat it up (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 06:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World of Worms

Like many kids (and much to my parents dismay), I was mesmerized by worms! The Miniville compost system capitalizes on this obsession, teaching kids the importance of worms and composting through an interactive, modular “city” structure that gives little ones a first-hand look into the process so they can… well… see how worms work!

Designer: Kermarrec Caroline, Alizée Lambert, with la Florentaise

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