Science Café Cleveland presents
"Bugs and Bots: Getting Around Complex Terrain by Agile Agents"
SEPTEMBER 14, 2009
FEATURING:
Dr. Roy Ritzmann
(Biology Dept., CWRU)
and
Dr. Roger Quinn
(Ctr. for Biologically Inspired Robotics Research)
EVENT INFORMATION:
Bugs have tiny brains relative to larger animals. But those brains are actually pretty sophisticated, allowing them to learn and to navigate complex environments by making rapid decisions based upon their goals and perceived dangers and by coordinating their limbs to move through rugged terrain.
In contrast, the popular impression is that robots have amazing computational ability, but they actually would fail in an agility competition with most insects. Just think about your attempts to combat flies or cockroaches.
The biorobotics program at Case Western brings insect and robotic researchers together to create biologically-inspired solutions for challenging human problems. The Ritzmann lab studies the behaviors of cockroaches as they scurry over, under and around obstacles, and then examines neural activity in various regions of their central nervous system to understand how these creatures navigate barriers. The Quinn lab uses this information to build ever more agile and animal-like robots that eventually will be able to move seamlessly through similarly complex environments.
Robots are currently being designed to: (1) model insect nervous systems for biological research; (2) move through pipelines; (3) fly long distances, land, and then walk; (4) climb vertical surfaces using animal-inspired materials and mechanisms; (5) move well on land and in water; and (6) use insect-inspired intelligent systems for increased autonomy.
Come to September's Science Café Cleveland to learnabout these robots and to discuss their potential application in search and rescue, exploration, and national security missions. You might even get the opportunity to see some in action! Come to September's Science Café Cleveland to learn about these robots and to discuss their potential application in search and rescue, exploration, and national security missions.
USEFUL LINKS:
If you have a few minutes, you can "prepare your mind" for the café by checking out this web site:
Center for Biologically Inspired Robotics Research
EVENT DETAILS:
Date: September 14, 2009
Time: Drinks start at 6:30 PM, discussion starts around 7:00 PM
Location: Tasting Room, Great Lakes Brewing Company (2701 Carroll Ave, Cleveland)
Click here to download a pdf flyer for your office!
