UK-based designers believe that, if robots are ever to be welcomed into people’s homes, they’ll need to fit in with the rest of the furniture, and earn their keep. Their prototypes trap and digest pests like flies and mice to gain energy – see video demonstrating how they work.
Flypaper robotic clock
This robot has a taste for flies.
The insects become trapped on the flypaper stretched over its roller mechanism.
(Image: Auger-Loizeau)
Flypaper robotic clock – detail
At the base of the roller, a scraper removes any captured insects.
They fall into the microbial fuel cell beneath, where bacteria digest the fly and cause chemical changes that the cell can extract power from.
The energy is used to power the LCD clock and keep the roller revolving.
(Image: Auger-Loizeau)
Coffee table robot
This is a coffee table that doubles as a mouse trap.
Crumbs are placed on the table to encourage mice to climb up the hole in the far-right table leg.
When the mouse stands on the trapdoor in the centre, sensors open the door and it falls into the microbial fuel cell.
The digested mouse generates the energy to power the trap door, sensor and an LED graphic display on the front of the table.
(Image: Auger-Loizeau)
Fly-stealing robot
This robot is meant to appeal to people with a dark sense of humour.
Its design is intended to encourage spiders to build webs between the pegs on the backboard.
Any flies trapped in the web are tracked by a camera (right).
After no movement has been sensed for 10 minutes, the robotic arm (left) picks out the dead fly and drops it into the fuel cell, generating electricity to partially power the camera and robotic arm.
The robot gets the rest of its energy from a fuel cell housed underneath a conventional ultraviolet fly killer.
(Image: Auger-Loizeau)
Lampshade robot
This robot is inspired by carnivorous pitcher plants.
Insects are lured into the shade by ultraviolet lights – which are lit only at night – and become trapped.
(Image: Auger-Loizeau)
Lampshade robot – ultraviolet LEDs
Trapped insects eventually fall into the fuel cell below.
This generates electricity to power the ultraviolet LEDs, which can then switch on to trap more flies when the house lights are off.
(Image: Auger-Loizeau)
