Intel developing tiny robots that can take on the shape of anything?

[Darren Dirt]

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9113301

Intel researchers are working to figure out how to harness millions of miniature robots, called catoms, so they could function as shape-shifting swarms.

"What if those machines had a small amount of intelligence, and they could assemble themselves into various shapes and were capable of movement or locomotion?" he said. "If you had enough of them, you could create arbitrary shapes and have the assembly of machines that could take on any form and move in arbitrary ways."

The basic idea is that the catoms, which one day should be about the size of a grain of sand, could be manipulated with electromagnetic forces to cling together in various 3-D forms. Rattner said that Intel has been expanding on research work done by Seth Goldstein, an associate professor at Carnegie Mellon University.

"We're actually doing it for real," Rattner said. He added that Intel started "at the macro scale," with catoms that were "inches across." The robots had microprocessors associated with them and could attract or repel one another via electromagnetism or the use of electrostatic charges, according to Rattner. "It's programmable matter," he said.

Campbell envisions that each catom would have a computer processor and some form of memory. Four years ago, he thought it would take 30 to 50 years for this kind of technology to be realized. Now, though, he estimates that the time it will take is much closer to 10 years.

(found via this surprisingly deep (and, even more surprisingly, articulate and CIVIL!) imdb discussion thread)

[Mr. Analog]

Anything is a very broad term.

Form the shape of a four-dimensional object, GO!

[Mags]

"Wonder twin powers activate!"
"Form of an Eagle!"
"Shape of a bucket of water!"
- entire JLA "Sigh!"

[Mr. Analog]

"Wonder twin powers activate!"
"Form of an Eagle!"
"Shape of a bucket of water!"
- entire JLA "Sigh!"

I'm going to create some artwork that will totally make the Wonder Twins seem awesome... I don't know how just yet... or why, but... I WILL

[Darren Dirt]

related to what I posted, methinks... dismiss or study at your leisure...


http://www.onemorepromethean.com/2008/08/20/robot-swarms-face-scanners-neurological-warfare/

"news stories which sound more like science fiction than fact -- onwards with the dystopian scaremongering..."

-swarms of military robots with collaborative, decentralised intelligence
-face scanners are to be installed in UK airports, replacing passport officers at border control
-neurological warfare. A report by the Defence Intelligence Agency suggests possible ways in which new technologies and brain research could affect how wars are fought

[Mr. Analog]

You know what the best part of airport security is? It's all a show for us, the public. You put a machine that beeps near my crotch, I notice it and I feel that "something" is being done about security.

It's the same thing with the cameras in London (and other parts of the UK). They're everywhere and has crime fallen? Nope, it's risen! Why is that? There's no adequate response to crime as it happens. So the bad guys all know they're on film, they wear ski masks and veils and whatnot and highly expensive system defeated.

I say bring on the billion dollar swarms of face recognizing robots, someone will pay lot of money for them and then baddies will just start wearing fake mustaches and nose putty again. :rolleyes: