Gnat robots: a low-intelligence low-cost approach

Author

Flynn, A.M.

Author_Institution

Artificial Intelligence Lab., MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA

fYear

1988

fDate

6-9 June 1988

Firstpage

63

Lastpage

66

Abstract

Suggestions are given to cut the cost of mobile robots with acceptable limitations on intelligence. By shrinking motors and power supplies to the same scale as the sensors and control systems to create gnat-sized autonomous robots, it is possible not only to reduce the size and cost of robots, but also to open up new application areas. Now that actuators can be etched on chips, it is possible to integrate all components of a robotic system into silicon: sensors, electronics, actuators, and power sources. The author suggests that shrinking to this scale, it is possible to take advantage of VLSI manufacturing technology to enable mass production.<>

Keywords

VLSI; elemental semiconductors; robots; semiconductor technology; silicon; Si; VLSI manufacturing technology; cost; gnat-sized autonomous robots; micro robot; mobile robots; semiconductor technology; size; Control systems; Costs; Intelligent actuators; Intelligent robots; Intelligent sensors; Mobile robots; Power supplies; Robot sensing systems; Sensor systems and applications; Size control;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Solid-State Sensor and Actuator Workshop, 1988. Technical Digest., IEEE

Conference_Location

Hilton Head Island, SC, USA

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/SOLSEN.1988.26434

Filename

26434