Robot Reviews

This method of navigation is better than using sight, particularly in conditions wherein there is limited or zero visibility.  By using sensory systems that mimic rats' whiskers, the robot can implement what is known as active touch sensing in a much safer way compared to using other parts of its body. This is analogous to comparing human touch and rats whiskers to feel one's way around.

When a human uses his hand to feel around and help him navigate, he can risk injuring it. In contrast, a rat using its whiskers, although also bearing the same risk of damaging them, will still keep other, more important parts of its body, out of harms way.

Going back to robotic sensors, a robot fitted with whisker-like sensors may enter a high-risk area and navigate through using them. If the whiskers get damaged, they would be relatively easy to replace.

Although the primary applications of this innovation is largely seen in the field of search and rescue operations, the researchers also identified vacuum cleaning tasks as one of other possible applications. According to them, robots can use this type of sensor to "sense textures for optimal cleaning."