Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
Micro-Mouse Robots With Grippers Tournament
Japan has held country-wide micro-mouse robot competitions for almost thirty years. This year, they're taking it to a higher level - autonomouse (sorry) robotic mice now have gripper arms to manipulate special cylinders along the maze.
(Micro Mouse with grippers)
At specified intervals, the special micro-mice use their gripper arms to grasp a cylinder, hoist it high in the air, and then set it down on the opposite side. The event is timed; the shortest time to complete the maze and all tasks wins.
For an additional challenge, the shape of the maze is changed constantly, forcing the autonomous micro-mice to adapt.
These micro-mouse robots with gripping arms are sounding more and more like the "golden shuttles" from The Mechanical Mice, a marvelous 1941 short story written by Eric Frank Russell (Maurice A. Hugi is one of his pseudonyms).
Something small, metallic, glittering had shot through one of the rat holes, fled across the floor toward the churning monstrosity. A trapdoor opened and swallowed it with such swiftness that it had disappeared before I realized what I'd seen. The thing had been a cylindrical, polished object resembling the shuttle of a sewing machine, but about four times the size. And it had been dragging something also small and metallic.
(Read more about the golden shuttle robots)
Let's hope they don't yearn to serve the malevolent robot mother from the same story.
If you enjoy mechanical mice as much as I do, you'll squeak happily upon reading these stories:
- Micromouse Robot Builders Seek The Brass Cheese
The UK Micromouse 2004 Championship; I can't believe I used the same bad joke four years ago. - AMouse: Bradbury's Robot Mice Get Real Whiskers
A small robot with two active whisker arrays - made from real mouse whiskers. - Eco-Be! Mini Robot From Citizen
Talk about mouse-sized robots; the Eco-Be! is just 1.8 cm wide and 2.5 cm tall, and is operated by infrared remote control.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 12/24/2008)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 1 )
Related News Stories - (" Robotics ")
YES!! Remote Teleoperated Robots predicted by Technovelgy!
'...a misshapen, many-tentacled thing about twice the size of a man.'
Will Robots Ever Fold Landry?
Where have you gone, Mrs. Robinson?
Cybertruck Robotic Arm F10 Drone Launch!
Drone away!
Will Robots Become Family Caregivers?
'The robant and the tiny old woman entered the control room slowly...' - Philip K. Dick, 1953.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
Musk Idea Of Cars Talking To Each Other Predicted 70 Years Ago
'My cars talk to one another.'
Elegant Bivouac Shelter Produces Water And Electricity
'There was nowhere on the planet where science and technology could not provide one with a comfortable home...'
X-Control Janus-1 A Suitcase Aircraft
'You will notice that it... fits the suitcase nicely.'
'AI Assistants' Are Actually Less Reliable For News
'Most men updated their PIP on New Year's Day...'
YES!! Remote Teleoperated Robots predicted by Technovelgy!
'...a misshapen, many-tentacled thing about twice the size of a man.'
Will Robots Ever Fold Landry?
Where have you gone, Mrs. Robinson?
Will AIs Give Better Results If You're Rude To Them?
'I said, "Listen up, motherf*cker.'
Cybertruck Robotic Arm F10 Drone Launch!
Drone away!
Black Fungus Blocks Radiation
'You were surrounded by Astrophage most of the time'
Liuzhi Process Now In Use In China
'He was in a high-ceilinged windowless cell with walls of glittering white porcelain.'
Reflect Orbital Offers 'Sunlight on Demand' And Light Pollution
'I don't have to tell you about the seven two-mile-diameter orbital mirrors...'
Will Robots Become Family Caregivers?
'The robant and the tiny old woman entered the control room slowly...'
Chinese Tokamak Uses AI To Keep Fusion Plasma Stable
'Guy named Otto Octavius winds up with eight limbs... What are the odds?'
Time Crystals Can Now Be Seen Directly
'It is as you thought when you constructed the time crystal, my master Vaylan.'
RoboBallet The Dance Of Cooperative Robots
'...an integrated seven-unit robot team.'
Chrysalis Generation Ship to Alpha Centauri
'This was their world, their planet —
this swift-traveling, yet seemingly moveless vessel.'
