A new prototype known as the ChemBot may take the trend of making robots more like living organisms in a very interesting new direction.  The ChemBot - which has already caught the eye of DARPA and the U.S. Army - resembles a ball of goo that can grow, shrink, and roll around on its own.

Yes, really.  iRobot’s ChemBot is a whitish-gray ball sprouting some wires, and it inflates and deflates in a jerky, random-looking fashion.

Or if you’re looking for a more technical description, Leslie Katz wrote, “[A] flexible silicone skin encapsulates a series of pockets containing a mix of air and loosely packed particles.  When air is removed from the compartments, the skin attempts to equalize the pressure differential by constricting the particles, which shift slightly to fill the void left by the evacuated air.”

Anyway, this process is what allows the ChemBot to move, and the organizations that are backing it hope that it will eventually be able to perform duties during reconnaissance and search-and-rescue missions.  Its ability to change size and shape might allow it to squeeze through very small spaces at the same time.

Still, as cool as the tech is, the ChemBot’s a little disturbing to watch.

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