Row-bot
Credit: University of Bristol, Bristol BioEnergy Centre & Bristol Robotics Laboratory, Bristol, England/ Boy Genius Report
Proof-of-concept at the moment, but this tiny robot can power itself to row across a body of water, consuming organic matter for energy, with an action similar to a water boatman.
Water boatman, AKA backswimmer
(Family Corixidae, Notonectidae)
Credit: University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
In the future, a fleet of self-powered-bots may help to clean up organically-contaminated water.
https://bgr.com/2015/11/13/row-bot-pollution-cleaning-robot-water/ / tip your hat researchers who work tirelessly further technology better the world around them inventions impressive Row-bot tiny robot scientific breakthrough proof-of-concept environment IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems Hamburg Germany Row-bot fuel cell powered electricity generated bacteria living inside device bacteria-powered fuel cell tiny organisms gut generate electricity Row-bot four tiny buoyant stabilizers stabilisers feet two paddles feet Row-bot afloat paddles skimming across surface water device takes water cavity housing moves electrogenic bacteria digest pollutants within water byproducts digestion carbon dioxide electricity fuels powers Row-bot move moving Row-bot brainchild team researchers University of Bristol Bristol BioEnergy Centre Bristol Robotics Laboratory located Bristol England design energetically autonomous artificial organism two subsystems bioinspired energy source bio-inspired actuation research researchers paper describing covering their work Row-bot work first demonstration energetically energetic autonomy microbial fuel cell-powered MFC swimming robot taking energy surrounding aqueous environment surroundings previous work stacked MFC power sources Row-bot employs single microbial fuel cell artificial stomach uses commercially available voltage step-up hardware produce usable voltages energy generated exceeds energy requirement complete mechanical actuation refuel energy production actuation demonstrated separately results showing combination subsystems produce closed-loop energetic autonomy work shows crucial step development autonomous robots long term self-power self-driving self-powered robot fueled waste pollution polluting pollutes polluted pollution Earth /
