Comments on: Nature Inspires Creepy Robot Swarms

By: shinichi.okazaki

shinichi.okazaki — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 05:31:51 +0000

A swarm of robots are either useful or dangerous. Sure it can be used for households and the like, but it can also be used as weapons of war. A swarm of robots acts as one but the components of it reacts as an individual. Take a look at the swarm of bees or a school of fish, robots can be programmed to imitate oneness but reacts individually.. just like the aforementioned flock of birds. Looks like people will appreciate nature even more because most scientific researchers look back to it. They always question mother nature. How? Why? What? When? Where? Ah! The marvels of nature! Just like what Discovery Channel says: “The world is awesome!”. ^_^.v..

By: Raskolnikov

Raskolnikov — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 22:17:36 +0000

How about a swarm of robots designed to help clean up environmental disasters? Most likely a lot faster, more efficient, and more cost effective than calling in FEMA and the EPA. On the DoD front, how about a swarm of security bots for automated surveillance/alerts of homes/businesses. Robots are tools, just like any other inanimate objects. My computer could be used to hit somebody over the head with, but that doesn’t make it a good idea. Tools aren’t what we need to worry about, the people using them should concern us.

By: Ash

Ash — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:39:59 +0000

How about swarm of robots cleaning up an accident scene.

By: anon

anon — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 13:30:58 +0000

> It just seems like there are far too many
> scientists who are studying nature in the
> hopes of creating robots that could haunt my
> dreams.

That’s because the research money comes from DoD or other similar agencies, so naturally, the focus is not on appreciating nature. :)

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 09:50:21 +0000

Touche, kelly, touche. i suppose there are indeed a few instances where i might be happy for a robot swarm. I still say we call it something other than “swarm” though. Maybe “smiling robot helper group”.

By: spookystuff

spookystuff — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 08:45:55 +0000

Cool can’t wait to be the first kid on my block to have a robot swarm!

By: Jack

Jack — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 04:19:22 +0000

The implementation of this was “Boids”, an old program that simulated the behavior of flocks of birds. “Flock” sounds better than “swarm”, doncha think??

Anyhow, there are very simple rules that cover flocking behavior — distance from other birds, primarily. Very easy stuff to write. Best book is “Complexity”, by Roger Lewin (I think). Interesting way to think about all sorts of behaviors.

By: Hansinator

Hansinator — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:00:22 +0000

Or in the case of a flying robot swarm, it’s size and therefore lifting capability could be flexibly adjusted to transport different items for you.
The missing remote control whilst your on the couch, for example ;-)

By: Esme

Esme — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 21:04:51 +0000

I just hope I don’t run into swarms of those robot cockroaches.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:30:52 +0000

Robert, You lack some imagination — I can think of plenty. Maybe some day when it is 100 degrees outside and you’re mowing the lawn and these little tiny robots came with tiny grass cutters you would say to yourself “Thank God for the robot lawn cutting swarm!”