The Future of Robotics

Researchers at the University of California's Berkeley campus want to create a four-legged robot capable of maneuvering over challenging terrain. The animal that inspired this is practically unrivaled in its ability to jump and assess obstacles practically on the fly. Psychologists who studied the mammal created a wall equipped with a springboard and flexible landing platform. After coaxing the wild animals that willingly worked for their favorite food, researchers learned essential facts. For example, the animal values stir to your take-off platforms more than flexible ones. And it can find items that they haven't seen for months and assess their food quality by weight.