Wat-Not Staff
Recently, researchers published a tremendous breakthrough in reviving extinct species using robotics. The very novel field, known as “paleo-inspired robotics,” is an attempt to reverse millions of years of evolutionary processes that produced these extinct animals. In doing so, robotic models of extinct species are built, and in a bid, scientists may perhaps find just a little more lucidity in the complicated biology that had its guiding force.
The project, led by Dr Michael Ishida of Cambridge University, deals mainly with simulating fossilised species’ movements. Beginning with the ancestors of ancient fishes, the group is working to find how the modifications made the transition from water to land possible. “With just a few lines of code or a 3D-printed leg, we can simulate millions of years of evolution in a single day,” said Dr. Ishida with The Guardian.
How Robots Simulate Evolution in a Day
Scientists can test biological ideas in real time using the technology behind these robot models. Traditional robotics has tried to mimic living animals, but robotics inspired by ancient life aims to recreate creatures that have been extinct for a long time. Mudskipper fish, known for their unique way of moving, are the main focus of these studies.
Researchers create robots that mimic the body structure of these fish to understand how their evolution affects their movement. This robotic approach provides a better understanding than computer models because it allows the models to operate in real-world conditions, leading to discoveries about evolutionary changes.
Robotics and Major Evolutionary Discoveries
The prospect for future uses for robotics inspired by palaeontology is far-reaching. These age-old wonders provide attempts at bringing back life as it was, a case in point is figuring out when and how the first vertebrates moved from sea to land to identify at what stage reptiles got to fly. In particular, by reconstructing some stages of robot evolution, scientists hope to answer several fundamental questions concerning evolutionary biology.
“How amazing is it to create a robot to learn how immensely large dinosaurs walked and moved?” said Prof. Steve Brusatte, University of Edinburgh, who is not tied to the project. This would permit the most invasive and disruptive testing that has ever been achieved on ideas regarding the history of life.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings