Page 16 - Amphibionics : Build Your Own Biologically Inspired Robot

Amphibionics 00 3/24/03 12:49 PM Page xv

Introduction

The robots in this book were designed to imitate biological life-
forms. Watching the snake robot moving through a room, it is
interesting to observe the surprised reactions of people when it
quickly turns towards them. People actually regard the robot as
being alive. I am struck with the thought that although these
machines are not alive in our biological sense, they actually are
alive, but as life-forms unto themselves. These artificially intelli-
gent machines are the products of human imagination and techni-
cal understanding. As the technology advances, the line between
living and non-living matter is slowly becoming blurred.

Being a collector of robotics books, old and new, I am always excit-
ed to see the robots and devices that other people have created, or
interesting ways in which they have implemented various tech-
nologies and theories. I am often inspired by some of the outdat-
ed mechanical diagrams and circuits in the old robotics books.
Even with today’s advanced computer technology, nothing is quite
as fascinating to see as the ingenious mechanical workings of a
well-designed machine.

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