Leg spines set to give robots better footing

Just what we need: an invention to make the robotic armies that will one day surely turn against their creators better scramblers. Regardless of future impact, researchers at the University of California and Pennsylvania University are envisioning "leg spines" that would allow robotic creatures resembling insects and spiders to scramble across gap-ridden surfaces much better than they currently can. The scientists carefully watched slow-motion footage of arachnids dashing across wire mesh and noticed just a 22-percent slow down from running across solid ground. Apparently, the little buggers are able to distribute their weight just so across their myriad of legs, so that there's usually one leg that catches another's fall and prevents the creature from getting too caught up. This biological method is being applied to robotic limbs, assisting crawling creatures to make it across less-than-ideal conditions by utilizing mechanical feedback. Look, we're down with eight-legged freaks, we're just not so fond of these things possessing an inhuman ability to track us down should a case of mutiny sweep the robotic world.

[stephentur @ Feb 17th 2007 8:10AM]

No sh*t...Have you ever seen a spider fall over?

[Das @ Feb 18th 2007 1:05PM]

Actually...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHzdsFiBbFc

[Spencer @ Feb 17th 2007 12:08PM]

I, for one, welcome our arachnotically propelled robot overlords

[SornyPanafonic @ Feb 17th 2007 1:11PM]

haha, I was waiting for someone to drop it. That line never gets old for me.

[Bloobie @ Feb 18th 2007 3:00AM]

I have grown tired of it as well. I guess it's inevitable when you have nothing intelligent to say. :)

[Ben @ Feb 17th 2007 4:41PM]

It has for me

[Rick Person @ Feb 17th 2007 5:37PM]

Reminds me of the movie Runaway with Gene Simmons and Tom Selleck. I love that movie. Sorta weird why you don't see movies such as this or Brainstorm or Re-Animator on any of the cable T.V. channels such as Sci-Fi. Lots of classics out there!!!!

[Joe Lewellen @ Feb 19th 2007 12:44AM]

I recently saw that movie again and thought it was funny they were still use using CRT monitors!

[Panther_V @ Feb 17th 2007 11:55PM]

now they just need to replicate :)

[TyPe @ Feb 20th 2007 5:24PM]

Good to see a Stargate fan chime in!

[David Ginsberg @ Feb 18th 2007 12:04AM]

Here's the Runaway trailer if anyone is interested:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088024/trailers-screenplay-E14181-6-3