Japanese engineer sees evolution guiding next wave in robotics

What could be the next big thing in technology after the digital revolution? According to Chuo University engineering professor, the answer could come from Mother Nature. "Traditionally, people wanted industrial robots to be able to work precisely to help with mass production. But today, demand is high for robots that can live together with people or that can operate in situations where people cannot," said Taro Nakamura, who has developed several robots modeled on living organisms. "People are now looking for new knowledge to bring about innovation. And I believe the next paradigm shift will start by learning about nature," the professor said.