What's New @ IEEE for Students, February 2006

10. MATHEMATICAL METHOD MAKES FOR ROBOTS WITH INCREASED STRENGTH, MOTION
A spherical robot that contains three curved plates within each other is just one of many new designs that could aid in applications for compact structures that expand into larger structures. Two engineers from opposite sides of the globe have bridged the gap between kinematics and statics, using the mathematics of the two theorems to improve the design process of computer-controlled robots. Gordon R. Pennock, a mechanical engineer at Purdue University, USA, and Offer Shai, a civil engineer at Tel Aviv University in Israel believe the new theorems represent a common language which reflects the connections between kinematics and statics, emphasizing the benefits of creating robots with enhanced stability and motion. Engineers can also use this knowledge for creating structures that are more resistant to damage from motion. The theorems offer the possibility of creating a new class of functional "multiple-platform robots" that retain their structure and stability even after being damaged or reconfigured.
Read more:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/01/060112034757.htm