Scientists at the University of the West of England (UWE) have designed a robot that does not require batteries or electricity to power itself.
Instead, it generates energy by catching and eating houseflies.
Dr Chris Melhuish and his Bristol-based team hope the robot, called EcoBot II, will one day be sent into zones too dangerous for humans, potentially proving invaluable in military, security and industrial areas.
The EcoBot II powers itself in much the same way as animals feed themselves to get their energy, he said.
The EcoBot II uses human sewage as bait to catch the insects. It then digests the flies, before their exoskeletons are turned into electricity, which enables the robot to function.
Bacteria in the sewage eats the flies’ soft tissues, which releases enzymes that break down the hardened shell.
Sugar molecules released from the broken-down shell are then absorbed and used as energy by the bacteria.
Wow. That’s so cool.
Not the digestion part of course. I mean the whole idea and concept of a self powered robot.
Flash-forward: Terminator will be back!
[Source: CNN]
quite interesting to know 🙂
thank you:)