Autonomous robotic fleas could create distributed sensor network

We've seen a fair bit of mesh networking approaches lately, and thanks to a unusual project going on at the University of California, Berkeley, the next great ad hoc network could be started by a horde of bugs. Sarah Bergbreiter has developed an "autonomous robotic flea has been developed that is capable of jumping nearly 30 times its height," thanks to what could possibly be hailed as the "world's smallest rubber band." Interestingly, the creator hopes that the minuscule bugs could eventually be used to "create networks of distributed sensors for detecting chemicals or for military-surveillance purposes." The Smart Dust initiative could eventually be expanded to grow wings, but for now the solar-powered bugger will stick to hoppin' via a "microcontroller to govern its behavior and a series of micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) motors on a silicon substrate."

[Via BoingBoing]

[Andy @ Apr 5th 2007 6:38AM]

It might be a bit like viki on irobot.

-- Andy --
http://www.allsortgroup.com

[shaun @ Apr 5th 2007 7:14AM]

has anyone read 'prey' by michael crichton?

basically its this but they evolve and kill people

[Vet @ Apr 5th 2007 8:52AM]

Robo-dog beware!

[Whatsizface @ Apr 5th 2007 10:35AM]

I, for one, welc... ah, nevermind.

[grjohnston @ Apr 5th 2007 12:14PM]

I, for one, ACTUALLY welcome our microscopic robotic overlords.

[Dan Q @ Apr 5th 2007 7:45PM]

Way to go Sarah! You rock! (She is a coworker here at Cal.)

Go Bears!

[engineer @ Apr 12th 2007 6:57PM]

If this technology applied to any humans foot then it will really be exceelnt...imagine one can jump 30 times of his height........
http://www.4engr.com/type