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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. == Application == Gastrobotics will allow self-sustaining robots to be deployed for extended periods of time without human supervision. The common types of robots today that are powered by solar panels, batteries or other types of energy tend to lose their reliability as soon as they do not have human supervision. Batteries must be replaced which requires human intervention. Other robots must be plugged in in order to recharge which means that they must have constant access to an outlet. This also means that they cannot stray too far form an outlet. Solar powered robots are a good step to creating independent robots, however, this requires a large surface area of solar panels in order to be efficient. Not only is this bulky, it is also dependent on weather conditions and panels must be kept clean in order to remain efficient. Gastrobotics will allow robots to live entirely off the natural resources available in an area. The main goal of this new technology is to allow robots to be able to be sent out on missions where human supervision is either not available or not desirable. Some examples include * Automatic lawn mower powered by grass clippings * Fruit picking or soil testing robot powered by fallen leaves or fruit * Exploration robots that are powered by their own environment * Sea exploration: seaweed and algae * Forest exploration: grass, fruits and vegetables 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Gastrobot」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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