Researchers develop cockroach-like robot prototype that could save lives

BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA — Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have been studying cockroaches. They've developed a cockroach-like robot that could be used in rescue situations.

Researchers at the university's PolyPEDAL Lab were inspired by the abilities of American cockroaches to fit into tight places and travel within those small spaces as well take a lot of impact.

Roaches have the ability to squish their bodies down to one-quarter their normal size and still travel at lightning speed. Also, they can also withstand 900 times their body weight without being hurt. That's equivalent to a 200-pound man who wouldn't be crushed by 90 tons on his head.

The scientists wanted to duplicate the cockroaches abilities and have created a compressible robot with articulated mechanisms that is able to squeeze into and run through crevices half its height.

They've named it CRAM.

Right now, CRAM is only palm-sized, but researchers hope that it will lead to bigger and better developments.

"In the event of an earthquake, first responders need to know if an area of rubble is stable and safe, but the challenge is, most robots can't get into rubble," said Robert Full, a professor of integrative biology at UC Berkeley. "But if there are lots of cracks and vents and conduits, you can imagine just throwing a swarm of these robots in to locate survivors and safe entry points for first responders."

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