Nature's Perfect Soldier.

• Author: Baker, A. Duffy
• Position: Scorpion used as model for robotics - Brief Article

Scientists at Northeastern University, in Boston, funded by the Office of Naval Research, based in Arlington, Va., have taken their cue from nature while building their latest robot. Biologically derived design principles are the basis of a new discipline called biomimetrics, mimicking nature. Their most recent project was the scorpion. This creature can withstand searing heat, doesn't eat much, moves omni-directionally, climbs with ease and alacrity over hills and rocks and prickly things and defends itself in no uncertain terms. In other words, it is the perfect soldier, especially if it could look like a scorpion, which would add stealth.

The robot developed at...