ChemBot

DARPA, the agency responsible for the Grand Challenge and Urban Challenge, is looking for brilliant ideas for shape-shifting robots. DARPA refers to these as ChemBots because it forecasts that these robots will use advanced soft-materials to be able to squeeze through small openings for example. There's a growing interest in soft-bodied robots. As previously covered, VT's WSL project goal is to create a search-and-rescue robot that can squeeze through cravices.

DARPA is setting a lofty goal for Phase I as seen in their request for submissions. They would like you to demonstrate a ChemBot that is palm-sized, can travel through a 1cm opening and morph back into its original form in 15 seconds!! I'm sure there'll be a lot of bio-inspired solutions.