Biorobots' focus is to design, fabricate, and market robotic devices through the integration of biology and engineering. The underlying premise of the companys foundation lay in the competitive advantage that the laboratory has perfected in robotic design by marrying principles from biology into mobile and medical robotic systems. Biorobots' is working on giving its robo-bird four legs which incorporate spines developed by Stanford researchers. The legs will enable the MAV to crawl around the perch to reposition/reorient the on-board sensors for an optimal view of the target, according to a Pentagon project summary. The tail feet will provide the primary braking force on landing, eliminating the MAV [micro air vehicle] tendency to pitch forward on landing. The front feet will cushion the landing and provide locomotion about the perch. If they can make thing work, itll significantly enhance our military and intelligence personnels ability to execute persistent surveillance. Manhunting cops could benefit, too. During the search, multiple
MAVs could be deployed and land on various structures throughout the search area. Even after the law enforcement personnel seem to call off the search, the MAVs would remain on their perches, keeping watch for the criminal/fugitive. The push for animal-esque legs is just a small part of a broader military effort to build small robots inspired by and in some cases, melded with birds and bugs. Military-backed researchers have built a teensy drone that floats like a hummingbird and even flown a cyborg beetle. The Air Force Research Laboratory is hoping to have its flock of drones ready to go by 2015.
