Coming Soon: Robot Sea Turtles That Carry Cargo in Their Shells
17 replies, posted
[QUOTE]The makers of quadrocopters and other fun robots at ETH Zurich may be landlubbers, but that does not stop them from designing objects that swim. The Swiss students are working on a turtle-inspired bot that can swim with efficiency while carrying plenty of cargo. The Naro-Tartaruga may not be as glide-y as a fish or eelbot, but it might be easier to build, and it is better for carrying payloads and robot parts like batteries and controllers.
As of now, the robot is a cylindrical aluminum vessel with turtle-inspired flippers, which will help it propel itself through the water. Concept designs include the more realistic-looking turtlebot seen above. The research team at ETH Zurich started with a tuna in 2008, studying how to imitate its movement in water. The main goal is to pick a winner between flapping fins and propellers. Whichever is more efficient could power new generations of ocean-inspired underwater autonomous vehicles.
[img]http://www.popsci.com/files/imagecache/article_image_large/articles/turtle.jpeg[/img]
[I]Turtlebot One of the concept designs for the naro-tartaruga robot looks like a full-size sea turtle. ETH Zurich[/I][/quote]
Source: [url]http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-10/robot-sea-turtles-carrying-cargo-their-shells-are-more-awesome-robot-fish[/url]
That is cooool.
I wonder how much it weighs.
[QUOTE=Blazyd;37912461]I wonder how much it weighs.[/QUOTE]
Maybe you will find out when they become self-aware and form the amphibious shock troops of a robotic overthrow of human civilization.
I shall make a magnetic long line and take the plunder for my own!
I think it just might end up dead in the water.
I wonder if sharks will be a problem, some sharks eat (or at least take chunks out of) sea turtles.
[t]http://seaturtlefoundation.org/storage/Shark%20bite%20in%20juvenile%20Green%20carapace%20-%20Julia%20Hazel%202004.JPG?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1344128206977[/t]
Pretty sure they'll be attacked by animals that eat sea turtles.
[QUOTE=imptastick;37913392]I wonder if sharks will be a problem, some sharks eat (or at least take chunks out of) sea turtles.
[t]http://seaturtlefoundation.org/storage/Shark%20bite%20in%20juvenile%20Green%20carapace%20-%20Julia%20Hazel%202004.JPG?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1344128206977[/t][/QUOTE]
add lasers to the turtles.
Or teach them martial arts.
Problem solved.
[QUOTE=imptastick;37913392]I wonder if sharks will be a problem, some sharks eat (or at least take chunks out of) sea turtles.
[t]http://seaturtlefoundation.org/storage/Shark%20bite%20in%20juvenile%20Green%20carapace%20-%20Julia%20Hazel%202004.JPG?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1344128206977[/t][/QUOTE]
Put a strong electromagnet in them that activates when pressure is exerted upon the shell. Or do the same with an organic chemical that repulses sharks. Both exist currently for shark repulsion. While studies have shown they may not be as effective for humans, if you put them on a hard metal object, even the biggest of sharks would want nothing to do with it after a small nibble.
[QUOTE=Pvt. Martin;37913455]add lasers to the turtles.
Or teach them martial arts.
Problem solved.[/QUOTE]
Great idea
till the lasers are pointed at us
Too bad we're running out of normal turtles.
[QUOTE=gbtygfvyg;37913413]Pretty sure they'll be attacked by animals that eat sea turtles.[/QUOTE]
The biggest predator to sea turtles is humans and sharks. Which is what I was getting at in my first post about long lines.
[QUOTE=Vodkavia;37914149]Should that turtle be bleeding or something with such a gaping hole in its body?[/QUOTE]
It was probably floating around for awhile before they found it.
[QUOTE=Vodkavia;37914149]Should that turtle be bleeding or something with such a gaping hole in its body?[/QUOTE]
It's probably dead.
I'd just love to have the frame of this to put in my bedroom. It looks really cool and even a little intimidating.
[img]http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100106121656/wowwiki/images/f/f3/OrcTurtleWC2.gif[/img]
one step closer
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