Why Robots Can’t Beat Fastest Animals, Surprising Reason

In recent years, advancements in robotics and AI have been substantial, yet we have not succeeded in creating robots that surpass the capabilities of nature’s finest. New research delves into the fundamental reasons behind this phenomenon.

Exploring Over a Hundred Studies Reveals a Crucial Integration Barrier in Advancing Robotics

After examining over a hundred prior studies and comparing robots to animals across various aspects such as power, structure, movement, perception, and management, the findings yielded a surprising revelation. It’s not that our most advanced robots lag significantly in any specific category. The challenge lies in our inability to integrate these diverse elements as effectively as evolution has over millions of years.

Mechanical engineer Kaushik Jayaram from the University of Colorado Boulder highlights that, at the system level, robots fall short. There are inherent design compromises wherein optimizing for one feature, such as forward velocity, could result in sacrificing another, such as maneuverability.

Illustrating this, Jayaram highlights a robot inspired by cockroaches, which he contributed to developing in 2020. While proficient at rapid forward and backward motion, it encounters difficulty when it comes to altering direction or traversing uneven surfaces.

Unveiling the Hidden Advantages of Trade-offs in Complex Systems

These trade-offs may also manifest as an advantage when two processes interact in unforeseen ways that benefit the system. While such interactions are more common in complex systems, predicting them proves challenging, if not impossible.

Furthermore, the researchers highlight that even the tiniest insects surpass most robots in sensing their environment and adjusting their actions accordingly, showcasing a flexibility and agility essential for swift and secure movement.

Consider power as another factor. While motors and batteries may outperform tissue and muscle in specific measures, in animals, power is seamlessly intertwined with sensory data within the same cellular units.

“In some respects, animals epitomize this ultimate design principle—a system that harmoniously operates together,” explains Jayaram. “Nature serves as an invaluable instructor.“

The driving force behind the new research is its potential to inspire engineers to develop robots that exhibit greater flexibility, agility, and adaptive locomotion, tailored to various scenarios.

Advancing Robotics Through Integrated ‘Functional Subunits

The research team suggests a focus on enhancing the construction of ‘functional subunits,’ akin to the integration seen in animal cells, where different components such as power, sensing, and movement coalesce.

This approach offers ample opportunity to explore adverse trade-offs and potential emergent properties. Until a deeper comprehension of these aspects is achieved, creatures like cheetahs and cockroaches will maintain their superiority.

“As an engineer, it’s somewhat disheartening,” reflects Jayaram. “Despite over two centuries of concentrated engineering efforts, including remarkable feats like sending spacecraft to the moon and Mars, we’re still perplexed by the absence of robots significantly surpassing biological systems in natural environment locomotion.”

Read the original article on: Scienca Alert

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