Editing Robot (section)

=== Research robots ===
{{See also|Robotics#Robotics_research|l1=Robotics research}}
While most robots today are installed in factories or homes, performing labour or life saving jobs, many new types of robot are being developed in [[laboratory|laboratories]] around the world. Much of the research in robotics focuses not on specific industrial tasks, but on investigations into new types of robot, alternative ways to think about or design robots, and new ways to manufacture them. It is expected that these new types of robot will be able to solve real world problems when they are finally realized.{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}}

==== Bionic and biomimetic robots ====
{{further|Biomimetics}}{{further|Bionics}}One approach to designing robots is to base them on animals. [[BionicKangaroo]] was designed and engineered by studying and applying the physiology and methods of locomotion of a kangaroo.

==== Nanorobots ====
{{further|Nanorobotics}}[[Nanorobotics]] is the [[emerging technology]] field of creating machines or robots whose components are at or close to the microscopic scale of a [[nanometer]] (10<sup>−9</sup> meters). Also known as "nanobots" or "nanites", they would be constructed from [[molecular machine]]s. So far, researchers have mostly produced only parts of these complex systems, such as bearings, sensors, and [[synthetic molecular motors]], but functioning robots have also been made such as the entrants to the Nanobot Robocup contest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.techbirbal.com/viewtopic.php?p=3687&sid=7faaeeb64eaf84880b23755fea7fa7cd |title=Nanobots Play Football |publisher=Techbirbal |access-date=8 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403180057/https://www.techbirbal.com/viewtopic.php?p=3687&sid=7faaeeb64eaf84880b23755fea7fa7cd |archive-date=3 April 2013 }}</ref> Researchers also hope to be able to create entire robots as small as viruses or bacteria, which could perform tasks on a tiny scale. Possible applications include micro surgery (on the level of individual [[cell (biology)|cells]]), [[utility fog]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kurzweilai.net/meme/frame.html?main=/articles/art0220.html |title=KurzweilAI.net |date=21 June 2010 |access-date=5 July 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621142011/http://www.kurzweilai.net/meme/frame.html?main=%2Farticles%2Fart0220.html |archive-date=21 June 2010 }}</ref> manufacturing, weaponry and cleaning.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.e-drexler.com/d/06/00/EOC/EOC_Chapter_11.html |title=(Eric Drexler 1986) Engines of Creation, The Coming Era of Nanotechnology |publisher=E-drexler.com |access-date=8 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906190853/http://e-drexler.com/d/06/00/EOC/EOC_Chapter_11.html |archive-date=6 September 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Some people have suggested that if there were nanobots which could reproduce, the earth would turn into "[[grey goo]]", while others argue that this hypothetical outcome is nonsense.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crnano.org/Debate.htm|publisher=Center for Responsible Nanotechnology|title=Of Chemistry, Nanobots, and Policy|date=December 2003|access-date=28 October 2007|first=Chris|last=Phoenix|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011132926/http://crnano.org/Debate.htm|archive-date=11 October 2007|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/06/040609072100.htm |website=ScienceDaily |title=Nanotechnology pioneer slays 'grey goo' myths|date=9 June 2004}}</ref>

==== Reconfigurable robots ====
{{Main|Self-reconfiguring modular robot}}
A few researchers have investigated the possibility of creating robots which can [[self-reconfiguring modular robot|alter their physical form]] to suit a particular task,<ref>{{cite conference |url=http://www.islandone.org/MMSG/9609lego.htm |title=LEGO(TM)s to the Stars: Active MesoStructures, Kinetic Cellular Automata, and Parallel Nanomachines for Space Applications |first=Tihamer |last=Toth-Fejel |conference=1996 International Space Development Conference |location=New York City |date=May 1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927215619/http://www.islandone.org/MMSG/9609lego.htm |archive-date=27 September 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> like the fictional [[T-1000]]. Real robots are nowhere near that sophisticated however, and mostly consist of a small number of cube shaped units, which can move relative to their neighbours. Algorithms have been designed in case any such robots become a reality.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Robert |last1=Fitch |first2=Zack |last2=Butler |first3=Daniela |last3=Rus |url=http://groups.csail.mit.edu/drl/publications/papers/MeltSortGrow.pdf |title=Reconfiguration Planning for Heterogeneous Self-Reconfiguring Robots |website=Massachusetts Institute of Technology |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070619212352/http://groups.csail.mit.edu/drl/publications/papers/MeltSortGrow.pdf |archive-date=19 June 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== Robotic, mobile laboratory operators ====
{{Further|Laboratory robotics}}
In July 2020 scientists reported the development of a mobile robot chemist and demonstrate that it can assist in experimental searches. According to the scientists their strategy was [[Laboratory automation|automating]] the researcher rather than the instruments – freeing up time for the human researchers to think creatively – and could identify photocatalyst mixtures for hydrogen production from water that were six times more active than initial formulations. The modular robot can operate laboratory instruments, work nearly around the clock, and autonomously make decisions on his next actions depending on experimental results.<ref>{{cite news |title=Researchers build robot scientist that has already discovered a new catalyst |url=https://phys.org/news/2020-07-robot-scientist-catalyst.html |access-date=16 August 2020 |work=phys.org }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Burger |first1=Benjamin |last2=Maffettone |first2=Phillip M. |last3=Gusev |first3=Vladimir V. |last4=Aitchison |first4=Catherine M. |last5=Bai |first5=Yang |last6=Wang |first6=Xiaoyan |last7=Li |first7=Xiaobo |last8=Alston |first8=Ben M. |last9=Li |first9=Buyi |last10=Clowes |first10=Rob |last11=Rankin |first11=Nicola |last12=Harris |first12=Brandon |last13=Sprick |first13=Reiner Sebastian |last14=Cooper |first14=Andrew I. |title=A mobile robotic chemist |journal=Nature |date=July 2020 |volume=583 |issue=7815 |pages=237–241 |doi=10.1038/s41586-020-2442-2 |pmid=32641813 |bibcode=2020Natur.583..237B |s2cid=220420261 |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2442-2 |access-date=16 August 2020 |issn=1476-4687|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

==== Soft-bodied robots ====
Robots with [[silicone]] bodies and flexible actuators ([[pneumatic artificial muscles|air muscles]], [[electroactive polymers]], and [[ferrofluid]]s) look and feel different from robots with rigid skeletons, and can have different behaviors.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/27/science/27robo.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ei=5070&en=91395fe7439a5b72&ex=1177128000 |title=In the Lab: Robots That Slink and Squirm |first=John |last=Schwartz |work=The New York Times |access-date=22 September 2008 |date=27 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403233312/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/27/science/27robo.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ei=5070&en=91395fe7439a5b72&ex=1177128000 |archive-date=3 April 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Soft, flexible (and sometimes even squishy) robots are often designed to mimic the biomechanics of animals and other things found in nature, which is leading to new applications in medicine, care giving, search and rescue, food handling and manufacturing, and scientific exploration.<ref>{{cite web |title=Squishy robots now have squishy computers to control them |date=25 March 2019 |first=Kat |last=Eschner |website=Popular Science |url=https://www.popsci.com/soft-robot-computer}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The softer side of robotics |date=May 2019 |url=https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/tech-takes/softer-side-of-robotics#false |access-date=13 February 2023}}</ref>

==== Swarm robots ====
{{Main|Swarm robotics}}Inspired by [[colony (biology)|colonies of insects]] such as [[ants]] and [[bees]], researchers are modeling the behavior of [[swarm robotics|swarms]] of thousands of tiny robots which together perform a useful task, such as finding something hidden, cleaning, or spying. Each robot is quite simple, but the [[emergent behavior]] of the swarm is more complex. The whole set of robots can be considered as one single distributed system, in the same way an ant colony can be considered a [[superorganism]], exhibiting [[swarm intelligence]]. The largest swarms so far created include the iRobot swarm, the SRI/MobileRobots CentiBots project<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.activrobots.com/RESEARCH/wheelchair.html |title=SRI/MobileRobots |work=activrobots.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212091659/https://www.activrobots.com/RESEARCH/wheelchair.html |archive-date=12 February 2009}}</ref> and the Open-source Micro-robotic Project swarm, which are being used to research collective behaviors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swarmrobot.org|title=Open-source micro-robotic project|access-date=28 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071111025135/http://www.swarmrobot.org/|archive-date=11 November 2007|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irobot.com/sp.cfm?pageid=149 |publisher=iRobot Corporation |title=Swarm |access-date=28 October 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927191006/https://www.irobot.com/sp.cfm?pageid=149 |archive-date=27 September 2007 }}</ref> Swarms are also more resistant to failure. Whereas one large robot may fail and ruin a mission, a swarm can continue even if several robots fail. This could make them attractive for space exploration missions, where failure is normally extremely costly.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2000/12/40750 |magazine=Wired |title=Look, Up in the Sky: Robofly |first=Louise |last=Knapp |date=21 December 2000 |access-date=25 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626210619/http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2000/12/40750 |archive-date=26 June 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Haptic interface robots ====
{{further|Haptic technology}}
Robotics also has application in the design of [[virtual reality]] interfaces. Specialized robots are in widespread use in the [[haptic technology|haptic]] research community. These robots, called "haptic interfaces", allow touch-enabled user interaction with real and virtual environments. Robotic forces allow simulating the mechanical properties of "virtual" objects, which users can experience through their sense of [[somatosensory system|touch]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?id=17363&ch=biotech&sc=&pg=1 |publisher=MIT Technology review |title=The Cutting Edge of Haptics |access-date=25 September 2008}}</ref>