Robosapien is an awesome looking robot. But its awesomeness goes beyond just the way it works. Underneath its storm trooper exterior lies some of the most advanced robotic theory ever devised.

Robosapien was the first biped robot that average people could afford. It is based on the science of biomorphic robotics. Biomorphic robotics is a sub-discipline of robotics that centers on emulating the mechanics, sensor systems, computing structures and methodologies used by animals. It is creating robots inspired by the principles of biological systems.

The creator of the Robosapien, Mark Tilden, helped define BEAM as an acronym for Biology, Electronics, Aesthetics, and Mechanics. The idea was to build a sensor based robot instead of these complex CPU driven robots that cost thousands of dollars.

The traditional way to build a robot is to make it sort of like the human body. Without a brain, we could not function. So robot builders build a robot brain or CPU to handle all the processing and movements of the robot. This makes them very complicated like the Honda Asimo. Mark says this is the wrong approach. Mark has found a cheaper, less complicated way to handle processing without a central CPU or brain. The problem though, as I see it, is that Mark has yet to build a robot that is anywhere close to the Honda Asimo. Until he does, I do not think that his way of building robots is going to stand the test of time, at least as far as the evolution of robotics goes.

Mark compares the traditional approach of building robots as trying to copy a human when we can not even copy a single cell organism yet! Mark refers to this as the "evolutionary dead end". The science of BEAM robotics that he founded in 1989 is all about using a bottom up approach of first mastering a single cell organism and then moving up the evolutionary ladder from there.

So instead of building a complex centralized robot brain to process thousands of bytes of data coming from its sensors every second in order to output a decision, why not use what is called subsumption architecture. Subsumption architecture is like a cheap way to mimic artificial intelligence. Subsumption architecture manages the actions of a robot in layers with each layer controlling one aspect of the robot's operation.

For example, a low level layer could be 'Walk Forward' which the robot will do until a sensor picks up that it has bumped into something. At that point, the slightly higher level 'Walk Backward' kicks in, overriding the 'Walk Forward' layer. If a sensor picks up that it has bumped into something, the slightly higher level 'Turn Left' kicks in, overriding the 'Walk Backward' layer. When the 'Turn Left' is done, the 'Walk Forward' layer kicks back in again.

Egomaniac Bugs

Mark first started making robot bugs to test this principle of subsumption architecture. These were nothing more than selfish little robot critters.

Why selfish? Let us review Asimov's well known Three Laws of Robotics:

1. Do no harm to humans.

2. Follow humans commands unless the command is to hurt a human.

3. Live and deal with it. Someone should have given Asimov a happy pill or something.

So the evil genius known as Dr. Hyde, I mean Mark Tilden, made up his own Three Laws of Robotics:

1. A robot must protect its existence at all costs.

2. You eat power therefore obtain and maintain access to power at all times.

3. Never stop looking for a better power source.

So in laymen terms:

1. Protect thy self.

2. Do not rely on anyone else to feed you, feed thy self.

3. When faced with the decision of staying put or moving to a bigger pad, take the bigger pad.

Mark Tilden's logic for making selfish robots is that, in the evolutionary chain in humans, we evolved by being selfish. Therefore, if we want robots to evolve, we have to allow them to be selfish to.

From Bugs to Sapiens

So after leaving the government and NASA, Mark found a job at a toy company who wanted to use his cheaper method of building robots, subsumption architecture, as a way to bring affordable robots to consumers. That company is Wow Wee.

Then came the master project that one could fairly say would change the landscape of robotics altogether. Robosapien was to be the culmination of Tildens work, finally bringing to light a humanoid (sapien-like) robot capable of an impressive list of moves and sounds.

Robosapien demonstrates the basics of BEAM philosophy and research. B because it is a biomorphic rendition of a human, E because you shall not throw it in a sink of water, A because it looks hot, and M because it can really dance.

Hello Mr. Sapien

Like no robot ever before, the Robosapien is affordable to the masses. The Robosapien is a crowning accomplishment when it comes to mobility, power consumption, programmability, and maybe most importantly: hackability.

The Robosapien's arm has 360 degree motion because of flexible elbow joints mounted on biomorphic shoulder joints. The hand has 3 fingers which let the Robosapien grip, pick up, and throw objects. It has the ability to walk using real biped motion. The only other robots on the market that can do this cost around $1,000.

If you have ever owned a robot before, then you know how many batteries these little battery hogs eat up. A typical walking robot will last about an hour on a set of batteries. Robosapien will last for up to 10 hours on a set of batteries! The excellent mechanical physics design is why the Robosapien uses less power as well as the fact that it has no energy intensive CPU to feed. For example did you know that if you move Robosapiens arm you generate power for it? Cool stuff.

For those of you who want a robot that will fetch you a frosty one from the kitchen, you lazy bums will just have to wait until later versions. But you can program your Robosapien to do some pretty cools things in the meantime, like wander around taking swings at things, guarding your bedroom while you sleep, and a hilarious game of pull my finger. Try teaching your dog that trick smart guy.

So what is so hot about the hackability, and is that even a word you ask? Tilden went through some serious effort to be sure that robot enthusiasts could take apart the robot, as he would have done as a child, and tinker with modifications.

Everything is color-coded in there to make things easy for those of us without PhDs, and by all accounts, there is plenty of additional room and power to accommodate whatever Frankenstein thing you can think up. There are entire books written on the subject should you wish to learn, so go forth and hack away. If it is a good one, send it in and I will publish it for all too either mock or applaud.

Almost Forgot

So the next time you look at your Robosapien give a respectful nod to the worlds first-ever robot based on the science of applied biomorphic robotics. Then go chase a cat with it.