Sensors and Actuators

Whiskers

Whiskers: uses the frequency of vibration to estimate distance to

obstacle.

Whiskers: Multiple whiskers for shape recognition

Human Senses

• Sight• Hearing• Touch• Taste• Smell• Balance and acceleration• Temperature• Proprioception or Kinesthetic• Nociception or Pain

Non-Human Senses

• Electroreception• Magnetoception• Pressure detection• Current (water) detection• Polarized light• Mechanical strain – exoskeleton

Snake robots: Carnegie Mellon

Snakes become tentacles: US Army Research Labs

Starfish Robot: self-modeling, adjusts for damage

Brachiating robot: possibly for following power lines

Cubelets: Module kit

Softrobots: Possibilities for nanobots