These are called self configuring modular robots, and they can change shapes, walk, and, in some cases, even fly. Just take a look at the M-TRAN3: an example of an self configuring modular robot made of interlocking parts that can change its configuration and movement at will. As you can see here, it's arranged itself into a long chain that moves by undulating like a caterpillar. But, it can also form a lattice, grow legs, even walk away! Sure, it's rudimentary, but let's face it, it already looks a lot better than those walking domino blocks that we saw in Interstellar. In both the real world and the Transformers universe, the robot is changing its appearance to best suit the purpose it needs to fulfill.
Now, you might think this thing is slow, unimpressive, and looks like a miniature plastic AT-AT from Empire Strikes Back than a Transformer, but keep in mind that the M-TRAN3 debuted at a robotics expo in 2005. In 2005, the Nintendo Wii, and the iPhone one were things of the future. More recently, we've had M-BLOCKS, small cubes that self-assemble without legs, wheels, or any external parts, just cubes that can hop around and assemble on their own with nothing more than magnets. Still, if we're looking for something like transformium, we would need robots that are smaller, faster, and more versatile than these self configuring modular robots. Transformium, as we see in the movie, is programmable; it has a memory. Programmable matter might seem way out of our collective human league, but scientists are actually developing exactly that in a branch of nanotechnology known as claytronics. Think of claytronics as a mix of robotics and computer science. Claytronics uses a system of very small programmable computers known as claytronic atoms, or catoms, working in conjunction with each other to create three-dimensional objects that the user can interact with. So imagine you're Skyping or FaceTiming with someone a few years in the future. Right now, all you're gonna get is a two-dimensional feed of the person you're talking to. But claytronics would make it possible for your device to do a full body scan of the person you're talking to, recreate them out of catoms, and then put a three-dimensional version of the person right next to you in your very room. And then, when the catoms are done being your friend, they could potentially transform back into a couch or a table or television. The possibilities truly are endless here Y'know those cool nanobots from Big Hero 6? Yeah. It's kinda like that. And here's the kicker-- even though it seems like this kind of technology should be decades, if not centuries, away, experts think we're pretty close right now. An article from the Institute of Ethics & Emerging Technologies in 2014 cites that researchers at Intel Labs are projecting basic claytronic products for commercial use by the year 2020. And researchers at Carnegie Mellon University are making noteworthy progress. They've produced electromagnetic catoms which are able to disassemble and reconfigure themselves in a span of one tenth of a second. So just give it a few more years and shape-shifting programmable matter just like transformium could be in your very living room! Or I guess, in this case, in your garage. But then this all begs one final question. If we can make transformium, then wouldn't actual Transformers be right behind? In fact, all you loyal fans of Film Theory will remember our episode about Terminator's Skynet, where we learn that artificial intelligence is projected to advance to the point that computers become self-aware maybe as soon as 2045. So if we create shape-shifting robot computers through claytronics by 2020, and true A.I. by 2045, it would only be a matter of time before they become our robotic overlords, right? Well, there's still one fatal flaw in building robots that can transform and combine to become more than meets the eye and it's not in the robots themselves or their A.I. In fact, the biggest problem is also the most stupidest. And yes, I know I did that grammatically incorrect for effect. I know it's more stupider. The issue, believe it or not, is this: That's right, friends. There's one big issue holding back the advent of Transformers in the real world and it's a problem that we've faced all our lives: Batteries aren't included. Yes, from the days of your battery-draining Super Scope Six to your Transformers Megatron walkie talkie radio to the line you say yourself every single day, "I need to go charge my phone", batteries are what are holding us back the most. Even though our circuits are going microscale and our computers are getting more and more powerful, we can't say the same about batteries. In the past 60 years, we've seen a trillionfold increase in computing power-- that's no exaggeration, a literal trillionfold increase in computing power-- but since 2007, phone battery life has only improved by 22%. And the size of the thing is still relatively huge compared to the size of the phone. The problem isn't creating Transformers, it's powering them. Entirely new power source systems just don't exist for these sorts of super-advanced robot-A.I. hybrids, and it's standing between us and the Transformer revolution, my friend. Well, at least until they become our overlords and start harvesting human electrical potential to fuel them like the Matrix. I mean, what? But hey, that's just a theory. A FILM THEORY! And...cut! Seriously though, we all know that the Matrix human battery thing is complete fiction, so, no need to leave the note in the comments. I know you will anyway, though. You already have. So if you're a fan of film theories like this one, then you must like the Idea of bringing fictional worlds into real life. Well if that's the case, then you should click right here to check out my series, Game Lab, over on the Game Theorists channel, where we take the same idea but do it to video games. And even if you don't like video games, I promise you're gonna get a kick out of this one. Do you like fantasy movies? Well then check out the episode where we siege a castle. *war cries* *war cries and flaming arrows* For honor! *clashing between two blades* #NotSpon How 'bout action movies? Watch us defuse a bomb! Opening the box now. Like The Matrix? Then you're gonna get a kick out of the hacker episode. You gain access to a network, and from there, you keep on branching out. What? Oh, no! People doing dumb stuff with animals? Well, watch me ride an ostrich. You are fast! And going in the completely wrong direction. This is insane! It's on YouTube Red, but all the episodes are out right now, so if you get a free trial, you can binge them all over the weekend and then, y'know, decide what you want to do with your subscription from that point forward. I'm not gonna tell you what to do; you could cancel. You could be overwhelmed by the amount of quality YouTube Red programming, though, and stick with that subscription. I just really want you to watch my show. That's... that's really all I care about. In fact, the Streamy Awards just nominated the series as the best non-fiction series on the internet, which is a huge honor, and points to how much hard work went into it. So if you checked it out, honestly, I'd really appreciate it. Just click this ostrich head to hop on over. Now, if you'll excuse me, next week, we're going to the final frontier. See ya then.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
My name is KennAs you already know, my name is Kenn. I like science all eco stuffs like developing smart houses, scholar system and so on. |