It appears that cockroaches are going to serve a purpose, as something other than a creepy-crawly insect most people run from. In fact, they’re going to be used as inspiration for researchers at Oregon State University, in the design of running robots.
The researchers plan to use cockroaches to help design the first legged robot which will have the capability of running over rough terrain. These particular insects were chosen because of their unbelievable ability to run, without expending nearly any energy at all. In other words, they perform this instinctive action even without reflex control, and this is at the very heart of what the researchers are trying to accomplish. Their goal is to create or design these robots with the capability of running, and to have them do so without exerting the amount of energy that humans do.
See the full article for all the details!
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091228163304.htm
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