Self-Reconfiguring Modular Robots. Does that sound a bit like the Transformers of cartoon and movie fame? In a sense they are. But there are some major differences. Self-Reconfiguring Modular Robotic systems are said to be autonomous kinematic machines with variable morphology. What a mouthful! You might well be wondering, what in the world does that mean? First they are modular. This means they are made up of many individual, independent, interchangeable components. Each module is also identical in construction. To help you visualize this concept, look at MTRAN III at http://unit.aist.go.jp/is/dsysd/mtran3/. Unlike a robot in a factory which can make certain fixed movements to accomplish just one task, self-reconfiguring modular robots are made so as to be able to adjust their configuration, structure and movements to accomplish various tasks at hand. Thus, the similarity to transformers. However, unlike the transformers seen in cartoons and movies, these robots are autonomous. There is no central brain. Each module has the same set of laws governing it and by communicating between one another they work together to accomplish the task. Currently there are 3 different types of modular robots. Chain, Lattice and Mobile Reconfiguration Robots. Chain robots. These robots are made up of long chains that can connect, or disconnect from each other at certain points. They can configure to look like snakes or spiders, form rolling loops, or become bipeds, essentially walking robots. By reconfiguring they can travel through tunnels, cross rocky areas, walk on flat surfaces or even ride a bicycle. Examples of these are PolyBot and Polypod. http://www2.parc.com/spl/projects/modrobots/chain/in dex.html. Lattice robots. These robots might be likened to a tile puzzle. They only move along points within the lattice of robots, but they can move over one another and attach and detach at certain points to neighboring modules. An example of the lattice robot is the Chrystal Robot. http://groups.csail.mit.edu/drl/wiki/index.php/The_S elf-Reconfiguring_Crystal_Robot. Mobile reconfiguration robots. Similar to the robots above, these are identical modules that can combine with others to form larger robots. But unlike the others they can also move independently of one another, until they combine to accomplish a specific task. An example of mobile reconfiguration robots are Swarm-bots. (http://www.swarm-bots.org/) The possibilities are endless. There are a variety of ideas on what the Category:Home › Other • Pomegranates: A newly discovered superfood • Where did the joke why did the chicken cross the road come from and why is it funny? • Can mothers diagnosed with bipolar disorder make good parents? • Spiritual evolution of human consciousness • Tips for getting a college basketball scholarship • Living with Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) • Caring for the caregiver • Technologys impact on society
