Shrewbot goes on show at Robotville

November 30th, 2011

The amazing Shrewbot, from Bristol Robotics Lab (BRL, a research collaboration between UWE Bristol and the University of Bristol) will be on display to the public (for the first time) at the Science Museum's RobotvilleEU from 1 December 2011.

For four days only, robots from all over Europe will be talking, walking and interacting with visitors as part of a robotics festival. Shrewbot will be one of over 20 unique robots who are due to go on show at RobotvilleEU. Within six zones, different types of domestic robots, expressive robots, swarming robots, swimming robots, exploring robots and humanoid robots will be demonstrating their expert skills and abilities.

The Shrewbot uses its whiskers to sense its environment and doesn't need vision to find its way around. It is based on technology copied from nature, specifically the shrew, the smallest mammal in the world, which is able to track and find crickets, using only its whiskers. Shrewbot is being developed by BRL with the Active Touch Laboratory at Sheffield University. Roboticist Dr Martin Pearson (UWE Bristol) will be on hand with the Shrewbot to explain how it works and to demonstrate how it finds its way around without vision.

When: 1 December – 4 December

Where: Science Museum

Times: From 10:00 – 18:00

Cost: Free

Details:www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/robotville

Provided by University of the West of England