Contribution Toward Future Biorobots [TC Spotlight]

Biologically inspired robotics is characterized by a multidisciplinary approach that aims to strengthen the collaboration between roboticists and biologists. The IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS) Technical Committee (TC) on Biorobotics was formed with the goal of providing a forum and dissemination mechanism for the interplay between biological and artificial (autonomous or semiau- tonomous) systems and to present biology as a learning tool for novel engineering paradigms. Thus, the scope of the research in biorobotics covers two main approaches: 1) the application of biological concepts/strategies to improve the current capabilities of robots, for example, extending the robot´s flexibility and robustness by adopting design principles of biological systems and 2) the application of advanced robotic technology to improve the current techniques/ methodologies adopted by biologists.