It seems time for another stride forward in high-end robotics. We’ve seen them in the movie Terminator and with Cyclone Power in collaboration with Robotic Technologies, Inc (RTI) contracting to develop the Energetically Autonomous Tactical Robot (EATR), we could see such self-sufficient robots in real life. The purpose behind developing EATR is perhaps to have autonomous robots with long endurance and high working capacity, thereby not depending on manual or conventional refueling.

Backed by DARPA, the EATR draws advantage for long-endurance, tedious and hazardous tasks from biologically inspired energy-harvesting behavior, which means it extracts energy from biomass and conventional and alternative fuels that work as food.

The project EATR is to be carried out in two phases, with phase one consisting of six months, wherein Cyclone intends to develop an engine with a biomass combustion chamber. And in the second phase the biomass gathering and feeder system will be built to work with its engine power source. And if the project delivers, then we could see long and enduring tasks and rescue missions being carried out to perfection by this tactile bot.

Via: NetworkWorld/SlashDot406181