What’s the ultimate achievement for someone passionate about engineering and technology? Probably creating a robot. And not just a robot, but an advanced cyborg, that’s just like a human.
And these creations are no longer the stuff of science fiction – this kind of technology is happening NOW.
Engineers have been very, very busy – and there have been some amazing advances in the last 15 years.
2001 Robots were used in the exploration of the World Trade Centre site, checking the structural integrity of the site and searching for survivors.
2004 The first two-footed nanobot capable of bipedal motion was created from strands of DNA and was a significant step towards the explosion of the field of nanotechnology. Engineers also developed metal skeletons. Robots with these skeletons can balance on one foot and traverse rocky terrain, just like humans.
2005 Researchers at Cornell University built a self-replicating robot.
2006 The introduction of a robot surgeon, and the world’s first robot operation.
2007 The bionic hand was developed, and bionic legs were developed in 2010.
2008 Carbon nanotechnology saw the development of robot skin. Silicon sensors in the skin detect touch, while different variants of robot skin have sensors so finely-tuned they can detect the weight of a butterfly. Those who remember the self-repairing skin on the Terminator, may not be surprised to know we have that today too.
2012 Neuro-signalling technology allowed patients to control robotic limbs with their mind.
2013 Japan sent a robot astronaut to the International Space Station.
Imagine what contribution YOU could make to this amazing area of science with the right education and expertise.
Place yourself at the forefront of technology. Apply now to study Engineering at the University of Tasmania.