mnn.com — Scientists working out of the Bristol Robotics Laboratory have invented a robot that powers itself by collecting its own food and water, digests it, then poops out the waste, according to Scientific American. It may sound unconventional, but scientists hope that a new generation of these "ecobots" will not only be self-sustaining, but may even help recycle and reuse food waste.
Feb 8, 2012 View in Crawl 4
langfordFeb 9, 2012
It's only a matter of time until these robots are drinking beer and smoking cigars.
Closed AccountFeb 9, 2012
Is that you, Bender?
anomaly100Feb 8, 2012
I already have two katz. Does he use a box at least?
techlinkonlineFeb 8, 2012
Right, I was going to say is it potty trained!
cawpinFeb 9, 2012
RTFA.
skinturtleFeb 8, 2012
I'll just leave this here...
http://i.imgur.com/LoIr2.jpg
psypher1Feb 9, 2012
Super Gigantor Poop Master!!! :D
worthwildFeb 9, 2012
And I shall call this robot Adam and he shall go forth and multiply.
tdruebFeb 8, 2012
Now if they can train them to believe that land fills are their natural habit we'll be set!
YoujitoFeb 8, 2012
Isn't this potentially problematic if the robots ever fail to differentiate feces from other organics and end up fighting with humans over food? Especially on a much larger scale... puts me in mind of the Terminator.
U_logic_error_broFeb 9, 2012
nah they will just eat humans
smpaisnutrientsFeb 10, 2012
3 laws safe.
NewsMeBackFeb 8, 2012
Useful and good looking, what more can we ask for...
trivialanomalyFeb 8, 2012
Not only eat feces, but eat feces AND crap out burgers??
agmlauncherFeb 9, 2012
When this thing becomes sentient, it's gonna be pissed that its creators gave it such an inefficient energy processor.
jerniFeb 9, 2012
everyone should have a robo-pooper! think of the CHILDREN!!
jaketyson85Feb 9, 2012
Wow, scientists made babies!
Closed AccountFeb 9, 2012
Yeah ... Going out to the strip club was a failed experiment.
luke1h7Feb 9, 2012
Holy shnikes. Organic matter eating robots + skynet + 2012 we're f**king done son! Oh my god. Flesh eating mini helicopter robots attack you in formation.
psypher1Feb 9, 2012
Internet Apocalypse! O_0
bostic30Feb 9, 2012
Wow.
specimen7Feb 9, 2012
What's with these lazy bloggers posting pictures completely unrelated to the story.
Do some damn research and acquire a real picture. Visit the researchers and actually to to them instead of posting rehashed reblogs. assh**e.
zektFeb 8, 2012
Awesome... next step, one that drinks beer and farts fire! (Or will that trigger a copyright infringement case?)
The_SovereignFeb 8, 2012
Imagining my toilet bowl as a robot's mouth is kind of unsettling, but who am I to stand in the way of progress?
juliochavezFeb 9, 2012
That is unsettling. Not to mention that I really need my robot's holes to remain sanitary.
xyz226Feb 8, 2012
So you can it walk the dogs and they all can do their business at the same time :)
lunarparcelFeb 9, 2012
I thought we already had an overabundance of organic matter-eating robots who are full of s**t. But then, this really isn't a suitable forum for political debate.
GhostmetalFeb 9, 2012
So terminators will take over only to eat our s**t?
sqrrlsyndctFeb 9, 2012
They'll consume waste products until they realize that it's a great way to recycle dead animals. Eventually they'll run out of dead animals and will start devouring the living.
That's when hunting humans will become the sport of digital kings. Things without a conscious
newsguy777Feb 9, 2012
Awesome, but it reminds me of that possible end-of-the-world scenario some scientists think could happen. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_goo
nitoriFeb 9, 2012
Coming soon robots that eat people for fuel.
Just joking.
abombitoFeb 9, 2012
This is definitely how The Matrix starts. They better not make these things sentient because once they realize they're eating our s**t they're gonna get real mad, declare war and start eating us instead.
bstoryFeb 9, 2012
People will still blame the dog!
tmazzFeb 9, 2012
Really engineers?!? did you not see the Matrix? Teaching them to sustain themselves off of our waste is step 1. The next logical step is that they will want to go straight to the source, and eat us for power... get ready for the enslavement
rudegarFeb 9, 2012
wonder if they get more power from veggies or meat right of the face?
favuquadFeb 9, 2012
Just don't let the GOP get their hands on that!
Thats a wetdream for them, Liberal eating robots OOOOO nooo..... the apocalypse!
kerripaulFeb 9, 2012
Robots fueled by organic matter will not only require their own toilet: they may even someday be a toilet, collecting human feces for power.
meccaydnaFeb 9, 2012
Well, it looks as if we've come full circle:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digesting_Duck
jakobmccaskeyFeb 9, 2012
Does he wipe?
deomo899Feb 8, 2012
Aren't those the same dancing robots from a few years ago?
mayrasantiagoFeb 8, 2012
I have few concerns about this ecorobots; first, from where is going to collect the prime matter, second -how frequent and how much the robot needs to eat, third- if there are not food available it will not work?