Dinosaurs are highly popular among children. Due to movies, many adults are also curious about these prehistoric creatures. The movie Jurassic Park depicted what might happen if dinosaurs were to return to Earth.
Although it’s not yet possible to bring back extinct creatures like dinosaurs, scientists are not stopping their efforts. They are planning to design robots modeled after real dinosaurs. These robots are expected to provide a deeper understanding of the evolutionary history of dinosaurs.
According to a report in Science Robotics, scientists are working on creating robotic versions of various extinct species using robotics technology. By replicating the movement and physiological traits of these animals, the robots will help provide insights into their evolution. This will also advance our knowledge of natural environments and evolutionary processes.
Michael Ishida, a scientist at Cambridge University, said, “We have extensive data on many creatures that disappeared millions of years ago through evolution. Using just a few lines of code or a new 3D printer, we can replicate millions of years of evolutionary data through engineering. Creating robots will make it easier to uncover various evolutionary details. Currently, scientists are designing robotic prototypes of extinct fish by mimicking the movement of living fish.”
The process of reconstructing extinct creatures through robotics is referred to by scientists as paleo-inspired robotics. According to research articles, traditional bio-inspired robotics often focuses on replicating specific traits of a single species. In contrast, paleo-inspired robotics integrates the dynamics, biomechanics, and physiological changes of multiple species to create their framework.
Source: NDTV