Robotic animals are moving beyond the realm of science fiction and toys. Built with sensors, motors, processors and, in some cases, artificial intelligence, these machines imitate the appearance or behavior of real and imaginary creatures. They can respond to commands, interpret their surroundings and navigate places that are difficult or dangerous for people to reach.
Some of the most unusual designs are intended for disaster response. Researchers at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore developed cyborg cockroaches by attaching a miniature backpack containing a microcomputer, gas sensors and an infrared thermal camera to Madagascar cockroaches. Electrodes allow operators to steer the insects remotely, while solar panels power the system. Each insect can survey an area of up to 100 square meters and help locate people beneath rubble, although human rescuers are still required to extract victims.
The system also has significant logistical limitations. The source notes that surveying a large building could require about 500 cockroaches and 500 operators. The insects can identify a possible victim’s location, but they cannot perform the rescue themselves.
Mechanical ants are being designed for heavy lifting. Engineers at Stanford University created small robots capable of moving loads up to 2,000 times their own mass. Four of them can transport an adult, while larger groups could move concrete slabs or rebar. Their traction comes from gecko-inspired feet covered with microscopic rubber hairs. Because their batteries can run out during demanding operations, industrial versions may be connected to cables and used as towing vehicles.
Other animal-inspired machines are aimed at infrastructure maintenance and exploration. Norwegian developers created a five-meter robotic snake to inspect and repair underwater oil pipelines. The device can transmit images, replace valves and remove deposits, operating at depths of up to 500 meters for periods of up to six months before recharging at dedicated stations.
A robotic crab developed by engineers at the University of California, Berkeley, is designed to burrow underground, collect samples and analyze soil. Its potential uses include construction, agriculture and pollution detection. Researchers are also considering future applications on the Moon while working to increase the robot’s digging depth.
Robotic falcons have a more specific safety role. Developed at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, the machines are used in Canada and Germany to drive birds away from airport runways. Unlike acoustic deterrents, which birds may eventually ignore, the robotic predators imitate the pursuit and dominance behavior of real birds of prey.
At a much smaller scale, Harvard researchers created a robotic bee roughly the size of a pinhead. Its sensors imitate insect vision and antennae, sending three-dimensional imagery to an operator. The device can fly, swim and dive, and consumes 120 milliwatts using solar power. The source describes possible future applications in the exploration of Martian canals, lunar craters and Venus’s toxic clouds.
The broader category of zoomorphic robots includes machines designed to move horizontally and vertically, overcome obstacles and enter confined spaces. Examples mentioned include MIT’s Mini Cheetah, insect-sized robots with spider- and cockroach-like characteristics, a DARPA robotic cheetah that reached speeds of up to 18 mph, and flexible systems modeled on the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans. Commercial systems from Gecko Robotics use suction cups to move vertically and operate in hazardous environments.
Four-legged robots are also being developed for transport, inspection and human companionship. Some can travel more than 30 kilometers without recharging, carry loads of up to 180 kilograms, transport injured people and recognize voice commands. The Unitree Robotics A1, weighing 15 kilograms, uses electric motors, cameras and lidar for navigation and can trot, change gait, shake a paw, stand and lie down.
The dog has become the most common animal model for quadruped robots because its movement is familiar and offers useful combinations of walking, running and jumping. Earlier designs included the Californian Phony Pony from the late 1960s, which featured articulated supports, sensors and motors despite having a limited resemblance to a real animal.
Robotic animals are also being used as companions, particularly for older people, children and patients who cannot keep live pets. The source cites research from New Zealand indicating that interacting with companion robots can provide benefits similar to interactions with real animals. Unlike live pets, these devices do not need food or walks, are hypoallergenic and offer predictable behavior.
Joy for All produces soft, realistic robotic cats and dogs that respond to touch and sound. Its cats can blink, open their mouths, groom themselves and roll over, while its dogs bark, respond to hugs and simulate a heartbeat. Researchers at Brown University worked on software that could enable such devices to remind older users to take medication and help locate items such as glasses or keys.
Tomobot’s Jenny is a golden Labrador-style robot designed for older people and children with autism. It remains stationary to avoid creating a hazard but can sense touch, respond to voice commands, wag its tail, whine and snore. The device includes 50 sensors, 10 motors and microphones, with an app for naming the robot and changing its settings.
Japan’s PARO, designed as a harp seal pup, is intended to encourage relaxation and positive emotions. It has tactile sensors and sensory whiskers, moves its paws, makes sounds, recognizes its name and reacts to affection. Its behavior can change depending on how it is handled.
Sony’s aibo represented a more sophisticated entertainment-focused approach. The robotic dog used cameras, sensors, 22 axes of movement and OLED eyes. Cloud technology allowed it to remember events, learn and develop a personality. It could play, bark at strangers, patrol a route and send photographs to its owner. The source says Sony discontinued aibo sales in June, highlighting the difficulties involved in developing consumer robots.
Together, these examples show how animal-inspired robotics is being applied to rescue work, maintenance, exploration, safety and care. Their ability to operate without food or water and to enter hazardous or inaccessible environments gives them uses that extend well beyond imitation or entertainment.
Sources: The Robot Report.