Weaver Ants: Can Robots Mimic Them?

0

Posted by Bird House Guy | Posted in wildlife | Posted on 05-02-2010

Weaver ants (Oecophylla sp.) put the finishing touches on their nests in Buton Island, off the southeast peninsula of Sulawesi, Indonesia. As their name implies, they use living plants to “weave” leaves together to construct their nests, which they vigorously protect. Silk produced only by the larvae helps hold the nest together. 

Weaver Ants

Weaver Ants

Scientists are studying the ants’ ability to complete complex tasks in order to examine how these findings can be applied to applications for robotics. If ants can produce these intricate constructions, perhaps robots can be developed to mimic their productive behavior.

  • Share/Bookmark

Write a comment