DARPA-funded MIT program could pave the way for actual TransformersMadison Ruppert, Contributor DARPA getting behind this type of research is hardly surprising given their new focus on robots that can approach human beings in their efficiency, increasingly life-like humanoid robots, cheap robots capable of changing apparent shape and temperature, unbelievably fast legged robots, mind-controlled robots, etc. In a recent MIT press release, they characterize their newly developed reconfigurable robots as the robot equivalent of a Swiss army knife since this technology could have a wide range of uses.The researchers dubbed the tiny robots milli-motein, which is described as a name melding its millimeter-sized components and a motorized design inspired by proteins, which naturally fold themselves into incredibly complex shapes. Indeed, as you can see in the below video, the design, conceived by Neil Gershenfeld, head of MITs Center for Bits and Atoms, visiting scientist Ara Knaian and graduate student Kenneth Cheung, is quite clearly inspired by proteins, thus giving the tiny robots potentially limitless applications: Theres quite a bit of innovation involved in these tiny robots, as Wired points out in writing, the team also invented a new system called an electropermanent motor, which pairs a powerful magnet with a weaker one. This system allows the electronic manipulation of direction of the magnetic field of the weaker magnet, thus either canceling or increasing the operation of the powerful magnet. This requires a far smaller energy requirement than if the motor was powering the stronger magnet directly as energy is only needed to change shape, not to hold it, according to Wired. Many people are excited today to learn about 3-D printing and its ability to fabricate any shape; Gershenfelds group is already thinking about the next episode, where we dont just control the shape of objects, but also their behavior, Lipson added in MITs press release. According to Gershenfeld, the milli-motein is just one in a much larger family of similar devices explored at size scales ranging from protein-based nanoassemblers to a version where the chain is as big as a person, the press release states. One of the most noteworthy aspects of this technology is the reduced cost involved, a seemingly large part of DARPAs current robotics research. The milli-motein could lead to robotic systems that can be dynamically reconfigured to do many different jobs rather than repeating a fixed function, and that can be produced much more cheaply than conventional robotics, according to the press release, written by David Chandler. It is also part of DARPAs larger program called Maximum Mobility and Manipulation (M3), aimed at creating a significantly improved scientific framework for the rapid design and fabrication of robot systems and greatly enhance robot mobility and manipulation in natural environments. DARPAs M3 program seeks to radically re-envision robotics research through fundamentally new approaches to the engineering of better design tools, fabrication methods, and control algorithms. Of course DARPAs ultimate goal is to amplify human effectiveness in Defense operations and what role this type of technology will actually play in future military operations remains to be seen. How exactly the milli-motein will be used by the military is quite mysterious indeed. Did I forget anything or miss any errors? Would you like to make me aware of a story or subject to cover? Or perhaps you want to bring your writing to a wider audience? Feel free to contact me at admin@EndtheLie.com with your concerns, tips, questions, original writings, insults or just about anything that may strike your fancy. Please support our work and help us start to pay contributors by doing your shopping through our Amazon link or check out some must-have products at our store. This article first appeared at End the Lie. Madison Ruppert is the Editor and Owner-Operator of the alternative news and analysis databaseEnd The Lie and has no affiliation with any NGO, political party, economic school, or other organization/cause. He is available for podcast and radio interviews. Madison also now has his own radio show on UCYTV Monday nights 7 PM 9 PM PT/10 PM 12 AM ET. Show page link here: http://UCY.TV/EndtheLie. If you have questions, comments, or corrections feel free to contact him at admin@EndtheLie.com linkwithin_text=Related Articles: 