/mechanical/ en /mechanical/should-we-turn-bugs-into-robots <span>We can turn bugs into flying, crawling RoboCops. Does that mean we should?</span> <span><span>Alexander Jame…</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-05-14T10:44:44-06:00" title="Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 10:44">Wed, 05/14/2025 - 10:44</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/mechanical/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-05/insect-xu-story.jpg?h=686c9ac4&amp;itok=kcsw9_vH" width="1200" height="800" alt="artistic illustration depicting a robotic cockroach"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/14"> All News </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/339"> Faculty </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/333"> Research </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/106"> Robotics and Systems Design </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/622"> homepage news </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/631" hreflang="en">Faculty</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/391" hreflang="en">Homepage News</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/661" hreflang="en">Nicole Xu</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>Scientists and engineers are modifying animals with mechanical parts to create next-generation biohybrid cyborg animals that can perform difficult and unappealing tasks for humans. But do humans have the right to overlook animal consciousness for personal gain? In this article by Salon, Assistant Professor Nicole Xu blazes this new terrain and explores the ethical considerations behind these biohybrid creatures using her jellyfish case study as an example.</div> <script> window.location.href = `https://www.salon.com/2025/05/13/we-can-turn-bugs-into-flying-crawling-robocops-does-that-mean-we-should/`; </script> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Wed, 14 May 2025 16:44:44 +0000 Alexander James Servantez 4464 at /mechanical /mechanical/5-robots-living-body-parts <span>Meet 5 types of robots with living body parts</span> <span><span>Alexander Jame…</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-03-03T12:09:09-07:00" title="Monday, March 3, 2025 - 12:09">Mon, 03/03/2025 - 12:09</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/mechanical/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-03/1030_living_robots_jellyfish_AngelaFan_illustration_0.jpg?h=8c1d2114&amp;itok=_RCYkh9Y" width="1200" height="800" alt="Robotic jellyfish illustration"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/14"> All News </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/658"> Design </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/339"> Faculty </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/333"> Research </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/106"> Robotics and Systems Design </a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/622"> homepage news </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/659" hreflang="en">Design</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/631" hreflang="en">Faculty</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/391" hreflang="en">Homepage News</a> <a href="/mechanical/taxonomy/term/661" hreflang="en">Nicole Xu</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>Living organisms have evolved across the span of millions of years to do things that are nearly impossible even for today's machines. But what happens when you combine biology and engineering to create more capable robots? Assistant Professor Nicole Xu shares her lab's efforts to create the next generation of cyborg jellyfish explorers.</div> <script> window.location.href = `https://www.snexplores.org/article/5-biohybrid-robots-living-tech`; </script> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Mon, 03 Mar 2025 19:09:09 +0000 Alexander James Servantez 4390 at /mechanical