AMERICAN RESEAR-CHERS have demonstrated the evolution of flight while improving on their experimental robot design.
In 2004, the engineers at University of California, Berkeley created a roach inspired hexa-bot called DASH. They hoped their bug would find applications during rescue missions in unapproachable environments like collapsed buildings.
But there were some problems- their bot wasn’t stable enough and couldn’t manoeuvre itself through barriers. Recently, they attached some toy wings that flapped as it speeded, but didn’t enable flight.
“Our overall goal is to give our robots the same all-terrain capabilities that other animals have,” said Ron Fearing, leader of the research team “In the real world, there will be situations where flying is a better option than crawling, and other places where flying won’t work, such as in confined or crowded spaces.”
The flapping action doubled the bots running speed and stabilised its own weight making it sturdier; it could also climb steeper hills this time.

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Reed wedding dress had 100 diamonds
Los Angeles: Twilight actress Nikki Reed reportedly wed fiancé Paul McDonald in a diamond studded wedding gown. The 23-year-old’s ivory white, body-hugging wedding dress had a 100 diamond buttons. The couple tied the knot at a private ranch in Malibu, California, reported Us magazine. “We couldn’t be happier. We were surrounded by our family and friends. We’re so glad this day has come,” Reed said.
The actress had collaborated with bridal jewellery brand Tacori.
— PTI