Salamandra robotica at NextFest


We seem to have crossed some sort of developmental threshold in terms of getting the made to act more like the born. This video, shot at Wired's NextFest, shows The Salamander, an amphibious bot built by BIRG (the Biologically Inspired Robotics Group) at L' Ecole Polytechnique Federal De Lausanne, in Switzerland.

Salamandra robotica @ BIRG - [via] Link

Related:

  • Japanese face-shifter robots invade - Link
  • Insanely cool, creepy "LittleDog" robot - Link


Recent Entries

Comments

Oldest comments listed first.

Posted by: INNOVATE365 on September 20, 2007 at 5:06 PM

I know that I should probably keep my mouth shut and not criticize, but I'm not super impressed with things like this until they don't have tether wires to some computer. Like the three-legged thing (Strider)that was circulating on Engadget today (which was obviously wired). The mechanism is cool, and it looks great, but until you manage to get the logic (and especially the power supply!) into the device, it's just a crude proof of concept. Dealing with the bulk of the power supply, and how to miniturize the logic is probably 90% of the problem with anything that's going to be free walking/slithering/swimming. Sorry for the rant. It does look cool.


Posted by: garethb2 on September 20, 2007 at 5:49 PM

Perfectly legitimate criticism, David. So no need to apologize. But it's still cool, as you say, which is why we posted it.


Posted by: +anion on September 20, 2007 at 7:38 PM

Does anyone have any idea how it was waterproofed? I am making a robot that will spend large amounts of time in the water.


Posted by: MissySB on September 20, 2007 at 9:39 PM

Mr Robotics Says: If you look at the Salamander robot, you'll see a thin, translucent tube following it. The tube is hollow and non-electrical- it provides a positive pneumatic pressure to the salamander, preventing water from entering the system. However, as is clear from the video, the pressure provide zero buoyancy to the device, it only provides inward leakage.

That is how they waterproof the thing.

Mr. Robotics, who is a jaded guy when it comes to robotics, declared that the Salamandra was the coolest thing at NextFest.

Incidentally, speaking of wired versus non-wired, if you look at one of the later LittleDog videos, you'll see that they do actually have it wire-free, making it just that more cutely creepy.


Posted by: MissySB on September 20, 2007 at 9:40 PM

Mr Robotics Says: If you look at the Salamander robot, you'll see a thin, translucent tube following it. The tube is hollow and non-electrical- it provides a positive pneumatic pressure to the salamander, preventing water from entering the system. However, as is clear from the video, the pressure provide zero buoyancy to the device, it only prevents inward leakage.

That is how they waterproof the thing.

Mr. Robotics, who is a jaded guy when it comes to robotics, declared that the Salamandra was the coolest thing at NextFest.

Incidentally, speaking of wired versus non-wired, if you look at one of the later LittleDog videos, you'll see that they do actually have it wire-free, making it just that more cutely creepy.


Leave a comment


Subscribe to MAKE!Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

Subscribe today, save 42% and get web access to MAKE free. MAKE Digital Edition is available only to subscribers.

$34.95 / 1 year
(4 Quarterly Issues)

Subscribe now


Void your warranty, violate a user agreement, fry a circuit, blow a fuse, poke an eye out. Make: The risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things... Welcome to Make: Online!


CRAFT Maker Shed Maker Faire MAKE television




Check out more videos from MAKE.

MZ_Jameco-RobotBuild_RR.gif
MZ_DIYMovieMaking-RR.gif
Maker SHED

Connect with MAKE

Be a MAKE fan on Facebook MAKE on Facebook
Visit our Facebook page and become a fan of MAKE!
MAKE on Twitter MAKE on Twitter
Follow our MAKE tweets!
MAKE Flickr Pool MAKE on Flickr
Join our MAKE Flickr Pool!
    make_tips on Twitter



    MAKE Archives

    Make: Money

    Make: Science Room
    Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

    Make: Online editors and authors!

    Gareth BranwynGareth Branwyn
    Editor-in-Chief


    Phillip TorronePhillip Torrone
    Senior Editor
    | Web | Twitter


    Becky SternBecky Stern
    Associate Editor
    | AIM | Twitter


    Marc de VinckMarc de Vinck
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter


    John ParkJohn Park
    Contributing Writer
    | Twitter


    Sean RaganSean Ragan
    Contributing Writer
    | Twitter


    Matt MetsMatt Mets
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter


    Dale DoughertyDale Dougherty
    Editor & Publisher
    | Twitter


    Shawn ConnallyShawn Connally
    Managing Editor
    | Twitter


    Goli MohammadiGoli Mohammadi
    Associate Managing Editor

    Kip KayKip Kay
    Weekend Projects
    | AIM | Twitter


    Collin CunninghamCollin Cunningham
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter

    Adam FlahertyAdam Flaherty
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter


    John BaichtalJohn Baichtal
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter



    More contributors: Mark Frauenfelder (Editor-in-Chief, MAKE magazine), Kipp Bradford (Technical Consultant/Writer), Chris Connors (Education), Diana Eng (Guest Author), Peter Horvath (Intern), Brian Jepson (O'Reilly Media), Robert Bruce Thompson (Science Room)

    Suggest a Site!

    Advertise here with FM.

    Why advertise on MAKE?
    Read what folks are saying about us!

    Click here to advertise on MAKE!



    Current Podcast

    itunesdl.gif Weekend Project: Pinhole Panoramic Camera A sturdy, panoramic design pinhole camera that uses 120 film. Thanks go to Ross Orr for the original article in MAKE Volume 09. To download The Pinhole Panoramic Camera video video click here and subscribe in iTunes. Check out... More...

    Get the Make: Online sent via email
    Enter your email to receive Make: Online each day:



    Sign up for the Make: Newsletter

    Our Make: Newsletter covers news from maker Media, has original columns, Shed deals, and more! You can also read the archives of past issues.


     



    MAKE Fascination video series brought to you by Dow

    Make: Education
    MAKE: en EspaƱol MAKE: Japan
    Important please read


    Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

    Recent Posts from the Craft: Blog