Gastrobot
Encyclopedia
Gastrobot, meaning literally 'robot with stomach', was a term coined in 1998 by the University of South Florida Institute's director, Dr. Stuart Wilkinson. A gastrobot is "An intelligent machine (robot) that derives all its energy
requirements from the digestion of real food". The Gastrobot's energy intake may come in the form of carbohydrates, lipids etc., or may be a simpler source, such as alcohol
.
The energy source commonly used for this robot
is a mixture of carbohydrates and protein. These molecules are obtained from food through a microbial fuel cell
(MFC) which then converts the food into gases and other potential energy
. The gases and liquids are used to help fuel things such as a hydrogen fuel cell which help create more energy, along with other gases that help power the mechanics
of the gastrobot.
The future of these robots supposedly is for certain types of so called 'start and forget' missions on an ecological plateau which would be Earth at the current period in time. Their optic sensors may have artificial intelligence
software that allows them to determine what is edible for consumption and energy conversion. Possible future commercial uses would be a self powered lawnmower that would obtain energy for itself from the cellulose
in the grass cuttings.
Energy
In physics, energy is an indirectly observed quantity. It is often understood as the ability a physical system has to do work on other physical systems...
requirements from the digestion of real food". The Gastrobot's energy intake may come in the form of carbohydrates, lipids etc., or may be a simpler source, such as alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
.
The energy source commonly used for this robot
Robot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
is a mixture of carbohydrates and protein. These molecules are obtained from food through a microbial fuel cell
Microbial fuel cell
A microbial fuel cell or biological fuel cell is a bio-electrochemical system that drives a current by mimicking bacterial interactions found in nature....
(MFC) which then converts the food into gases and other potential energy
Potential energy
In physics, potential energy is the energy stored in a body or in a system due to its position in a force field or due to its configuration. The SI unit of measure for energy and work is the Joule...
. The gases and liquids are used to help fuel things such as a hydrogen fuel cell which help create more energy, along with other gases that help power the mechanics
Mechanics
Mechanics is the branch of physics concerned with the behavior of physical bodies when subjected to forces or displacements, and the subsequent effects of the bodies on their environment....
of the gastrobot.
The future of these robots supposedly is for certain types of so called 'start and forget' missions on an ecological plateau which would be Earth at the current period in time. Their optic sensors may have artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
software that allows them to determine what is edible for consumption and energy conversion. Possible future commercial uses would be a self powered lawnmower that would obtain energy for itself from the cellulose
Cellulose
Cellulose is an organic compound with the formula , a polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of several hundred to over ten thousand β linked D-glucose units....
in the grass cuttings.
See also
- Bender - a fictional robot from the year 3000 that 'lives' on common alcohol.