The Science of Robosapien
Robosapien is an awesome looking robot. But its awesomeness goes beyond just the way it works. Underneath its storm trooper exterior lies some of the most advanced robotic theory ever devised.
Robosapien is a modern day turning point in the evolution of robotics and is the first-ever robot based on the science of applied biomorphic robotics. Biomorphic robotics stems from Mark Tildens innovative new concepts in BEAM technology.
The creator of the Robosapien, Mark Tilden, helped define BEAM as an acronym for Biology, Electronics, Aesthetics, and Mechanics. The idea was to build a sensor based robot instead of these complex CPU driven robots that cost thousands of dollars.
The traditional way to build a robot is to make it sort of like the human body. Without a brain, we could not function. So robot builders build a robot brain or CPU to handle all the processing and movements of the robot. This makes them very complicated like the Honda Asimo. Mark says this is the wrong approach. Mark has found a cheaper, less complicated way to handle processing without a central CPU or brain. The problem though, as I see it, is that Mark has yet to build a robot that is anywhere close to the Honda Asimo. Until he does, I do not think that his way of building robots is going to stand the test of time, at least as far as the evolution of robotics goes.
It is like trying to emulate a human when modern technology and research can not realistically copy a bug from your garden. "[It is] an evolutionary dead end," says Tilden. BEAM robotics is about taking the bottom-up approach, to start from mastering the simple bug and moving up from there.
So instead of building a complex centralized robot brain to process thousands of bytes of data coming from its sensors every second in order to output a decision, why not use what is called subsumption architecture. Subsumption architecture is like a cheap way to mimic artificial intelligence. Subsumption architecture manages the actions of a robot in layers with each layer controlling one aspect of the robot's operation.
For example, a low-level layer could be 'Walk Forward,' which the robot will happily do until it bumps into something. At this point, the slightly higher level 'Lift Leg Higher' kicks in, overriding the 'Walk Forward' layer until the robot successfully climbs over the obstacle, at which point 'Lift Leg Higher' stops, and the low-level 'Walk Forward' takes over again.
Egocentric Bugs
So Tilden began building robot bugs on this principle, and more selfish creatures they could not have been.
Whys that? Well Tilden decided that Asimovs famous Three Laws of Robotics were no good. A review of those laws are:
1. Do no harm to humans.
2. Follow humans commands unless the command is to hurt a human.
3. Try to live with that. Were antiquated notions that left no room for a good practical joke at parties.
So one dark and stormy night he penned Tildens Three Laws of Robotics:
1. You are a robot and you are number 1 baby. You need to look out for yourself and to protect your own existence at all costs.
2. You eat power therefore obtain and maintain access to power at all times.
3. You need to always be on the search for a better power source.
So in laymen terms:
1. Protect yourself at all costs.
2. Feed yourself and do not rely on anyone else to feed you.
3. Move thy self to better real estate.
Mark's reasoning is that self-interest is how we as humans evolved from tad poles in the ocean and so robots need this self-interest to evolve the way humans did.
From Selfish Robot Bugs To Sapiens
So after leaving the government and NASA, Mark found a job at a toy company who wanted to use his cheaper method of building robots, subsumption architecture, as a way to bring affordable robots to consumers. That company is Wow Wee.
Then came the project that brought inexpensive robots to the masses: Robosapien. This biped humanoid robot was hundreds of dollars less than other humanoid robots and has some impressive moves and sounds.
In Robosapien, you see the basics of BEAM philosophy and technological research. It follows the B as a biomorphic rendition of humans, E for the fact you can not throw it in a bathtub, A because it is stylin, and one heck of a lot of M going into the robo-dancing capability.
Hello Mr. Sapien
No other robot has ever been made that is so affordable. Robosapien is the world's cheapest mobile, humanoid robot. It can also be hacked.
Robosapien has biomorphic shoulder joints capable of 360 degree motion. The hand has three fingers that allow this robot to grip, pick up, and even throw objects. This biped robot has real full walking motion which is rare for biped robots outside a lab.
And do you know how much power it usually takes to run a robot? Regular robots are little battery-eaters always hungry for more, more, more! Robosapien brings no shame to itself when consuming power, essentially due to the astounding mechanical physics. It runs a full 6 to 10 hours on just one set of batteries. In fact, if you move Robosapiens arm you will actually generate power for it! Hey man, that is cool.
If you are looking for a robot that will cook your dinner and wash your toilet you are going to have to wait until later versions come out. But you can still do neat things with the Robosapien like have it wander around punching things or even guarding your bedroom. It also has a fun game of pull my finger.
A great feature is how you can hack this robot. In fact, Mark built this robot with the hacker in mind.
The inside of the robot has all parts color coded so you can quickly and easily identify which parts do what. There is also lots of room inside to accommodate almost any kind of hack you can think of. There are even books on the different things you can do by hacking the robot. If you have hacked your Robosapien, send your hack in and if it is good, I will publish it for all to either love or hate.
And Another Thing
Whenever you see a Robosapien, remember that it is the world's first robot based on the science of biomorphic robots. Then go harass your bird with it. [youtube:F95YW_SoytI;[link:Robosapien];http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F95YW_SoytI&feature=related]
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