The way robots are developed, and the way they are made to perform a wide variety of functions, has truly advanced. One proof of this is the CRONOS robot development project spearheaded by Rob Knight and Owen Holland for the Machine Consciousness Lab of the University of Bristol in Essex, UK.
The humanoid robot was started in 2006, and has since came to known as an anthropomimetic machine. Making this robot an anthropomimetic has taken robotics technology and research to greater heights. It means that the robot can exhibit almost all kinds of human behavior, both internally and externally.
The creators used thermoplastic polymer, the same material used to create artificial tendons, to make artificial skeletons for CRONOS. To date, this robot has been used as a prototype for the study of actuators, joints, and advanced robot morphology.
Looking forward, the creators believe that when it is perfected, CRONOS will be used for the performance of life-threatening tasks, such as bomb removal. Simpler tasks, like being an assistant and receptionist at workplaces such as grocery marts and clinics, can also be implemented on future prototypes of CRONOS. With such great anthropomimetic features, it is not too hard to imagine that this robot could blend in well with human society.
Features:
Machine Consciousness Lab.
U. of Bristol
