SlothBot Saves Energy with the Theory of Slowness

SlothBot Saves Energy with the Theory of Slowness
May-31-19
The SlothBot takes it slow to conserve energy while monitoring its environment from the forest canopy.

Developed by a team from Georgia Tech, the SlothBot is designed to travel along cables strung in the treetops as it harvests solar energy from its photovoltaic panels. The 3D-printed robot grips the cable with rubber wheels, and can even move from one cable to another. Once in location, the SlothBot is meant to linger, taking required measurements and only moving when it needs new information or to charge its battery.

According to Magnus Egerstedt, Chair of the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the SlothBot is based on the “theory of slowness.” “The thing that costs energy more than anything else is movement,” Egerstedt said. “Moving is much more expensive than sensing or thinking. For environmental robots, you should only move when you absolutely have to. We had to think about what that would be like.”

SlothBot Saves Energy with the Theory of Slowness


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