Innovative robotics technology driven by evolutionary principles – Featured on CNN’s ‘Tech for Good’

HONG KONG, | WellnessNewsPh | In the latest episode of ‘Tech for Good’, CNN anchor and correspondent Kristie Lu Stout explores the innovative work of students and professors worldwide who are developing groundbreaking robotics inspired by nature.

In Korea, the Department of Electrical Engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) has introduced ‘DreamWaQ’, a robot controller technology that facilitates blind locomotion. This AI system, trained through deep learning to navigate various types of simulated terrain, has the potential to assist in search and rescue missions, particularly in fire or disaster scenarios where it can help locate individuals in dark or smoky environments. Additionally, the DreamWaQ technology has been integrated into the Hound 2, which holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest 100m sprint by a quadruped robot. Witness Kristie Lu Stout’s challenge to the KAIST Hound 2 on the racetrack, and discover CAROS-H, a wall-climbing drone developed by KAIST researchers inspired by six-legged insects capable of both flight and walking.

Traveling to the Netherlands, scientists at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) have drawn inspiration from animals and insects at their Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) Lab. For example, the MAVLab team has developed microdrones that utilize ‘odometry’ navigation, a technique employed by ants and other insects to track visual cues and number of steps. Meanwhile, researchers at TU Delft’s Biomorphic Intelligence Lab are working on biomorphic whisker sensors to enable drones to navigate in darkness, inspired by one of the professor’s pet rabbits.

In Australia, researchers at the University of Queensland are developing insect/machine hybrid robots by attaching miniature control backpacks onto living insects, inspired by the body structure of insects. These cyborgs, leveraging their natural mobility and adaptability, could potentially be deployed in small spaces for search and rescue missions at a low cost and energy consumption.

Looking ahead, the season finale of ‘Tech for Good’ will be broadcasted live on November 30, 2024, in London, England, featuring three projects previously highlighted on the show that are pushing the boundaries of modern technology.

For more information on ‘Tech for Good’, including trailers, images, and a microsite, visit the following links:
– Trailer: https://bit.ly/4esTc7o
– Images: https://bit.ly/3YVActv
– Microsite: https://cnn.it/3PB5DSq

Catch the 30-minute special on the following airtimes:
– Sunday, 17th November at 5am, 1:30pm, and 8pm HKT
– Monday, 18th November at 12pm HKT

About CNN International:
CNN offers news and information services in seven different languages across major TV, digital, and mobile platforms, reaching over 475 million households globally. CNN International is the leading international TV news channel in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, and Latin America, with a US presence through CNNgo. CNN Digital is a top network for online news, mobile news, and social media, investing in expanding its global digital footprint with award-winning properties and strategic content partnerships. CNN has received numerous prestigious awards for its journalism worldwide, producing around 1,000 hours of non-news programming annually. With 36 editorial offices and over 1,100 affiliates worldwide through CNN Newsource, CNN International is a Warner Bros. Discovery company.

Source: CNN International