You may know of Steve Potter at the Laboratory for NeuroEngineering at Emory and Georgia Tech who is most notably famous for his Hybrots (hybrid robots). Hybrid robots refer to artificial animals (part animal part robot - also including animal like robots and robots that behave like animals) that are controlled neurally. Where he grows neural circuits in petri dishes and hooks them up to the sensors and actuators of robots.

Well we’ve been hearing chatter about hybrots being taken to the next level. Most notably, how Charles Higgins from the University of Arizona has been tapping into the spinal cord of dragonflies and using them as extremely powerful sensors for his robots. The primary study being on “mixing biology and electronics to create robotic vision.”

This appears to be a very interesting field to study: integrating biological parts with electronic ones. The possibilities for the use of organic parts in machinery are endless: super-smelling warning bots that can sense any dangerous chemical, gas or oil leaks in critical situations, or rescue bots with a sense of smell that can lead them directly to a trapped survivor. Whatever the future uses and regardless of possible ramifications, for a dragonfly to be synched up with machines is quite a feat to accomplish and all-around amazing!

“researchers at North Carolina State University are mimicking nature’s small flyers – and developing robotic bats that offer increased maneuverability and performance.”

This is only another step towards more innovative mechanical designs mimicking real life animals and organisms. There have already been numerous strides made in optimizing our electronically designed systems by merging them with the advantageous design of nature.

The skeleton of the robotic bat uses shape-memory metal alloy that is super-elastic for the joints, and smart materials that respond to electric current for the muscular system. Kinda like in the Batman movie where the fabric tightens when an induced electrical current it applied to it.

So check it out! - ScienceDaily

Ok so most of you probably love movies like “Terminator” or “Transformers” or “Short Circuit” or “iRobot,” right? What would you do if those same beloved science fiction movies were actually science fact? The New York Times released an article recently detailing just how some scientists are worried that machines may become more than just our tools to make life more convenient.

Take a look: “Scientists Worry Machines May Outsmart Man”

So, what do you think would be the best way to avoid having something horribly reminiscent of a scifi  happen where humans and robots battle it out in post-apocalyptic fashion?