Zoobotics (Extra Credit)

Until now, when people think of robots they think of the onlys with claws that crash into eachother, or the ones with human likes qualities, much like C3PO. Companies like Sony have made robot dogs that too most can just be considered as "toys". But no longer, sudden advances in this technologic field have created something that will no longer associate the word "toy" with robots. Cecillia Laschi of Sant'Anna School of Advanced studies in Pisa have taken it upon themselves to create a robotic octopus. The team took the time to study the body of an octopus themsleves, in order to properly remake it in robot form. Once they were done with this study they made a casting out of sillicone and was fitted with pressure sensors. Inside the cast are cables made of elastic nickel titanium alloy. This allows the arm to wrap around much like an octopus would. However; sense there is only one arm made it is really a monopus. But in the next two years Laschi plans on making 7 more arms, and complete the project. This is only one of many different examples of Zoobotics. Other groups are engineering different fish, geckos, and shrews. With advances in technology all this may be a possibility to see in our future.

http://www.economist.com/node/18925855