HERMES is more energy efficient than a solid sphere. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. A robot inspired by desert tumbleweeds may be the first of a new generation of energy-efficient explorers rolling into future disaster zones. While the Hybrid Energy-efficient Rover Mechanism for Exploration Systems (HERMES) described in the journal recalls the desert ramblers, its creator initially envisioned the idea while watching humans enjoy wind simply for the thrill of it. "The inspiration struck on a windy winter afternoon along the shores of Lake Neuchâtel [in western Switzerland]," said Sanjay Manoharan, a study co-author and researcher at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL).

Police forces around the world are adding AI-powered robots. In a groundbreaking fusion of nature and technology, researchers at the University of Queensland have developed remote-controlled beetles equipped with tiny, removable backpacks that could drastically reduce the time it takes to locate survivors in disaster zones. Also known as cyborg beetles, these hybrid helpers are part of an ambitious project to improve emergency response in situations like building collapses, earthquakes or industrial explosions. By combining natural mobility with simple controls, researchers are developing a faster, more flexible way to reach people in hard-to-access areas. A close-up of a cyborg beetle with mounted electronics.

Honeybees use a sophisticated dance to tell their sisters about the location of nearby flowers. This phenomenon forms the inspiration for a form of robot-robot communication that does not rely on digital networks. A recent study presents a simple technique whereby robots view and interpret each other's movements or a gesture from a human to communicate a geographical location. This approach could prove invaluable when network coverage is unreliable or absent, such as in disaster zones. Where are those flowers and how far away are they?

An insect-inspired flying robot with wings that buzz thanks to a new type of electric'muscle' has been developed by British scientists. The prototype weighs about 0.01lbs (5g), has a wing span of 5.9 inches (15cm) and can fly at 1.6mph. It is hoped that one day the robot will be able to look for survivors in disaster zones such as collapsed buildings, monitor hard-to-reach infrastructure and pollinate crops. Researchers at Bristol University said its wings are so efficient that they actually provide more power than an insect muscle of the same weight. 'It's very challenging to beat nature,' Dr Tim Helps, lead author of the study, told MailOnline.

A car which can climb walls and step over holes thanks to its robotic legs could transform the way rescue teams operate in disaster zones. More than 10,000 people died in natural catastrophes in 2017, with an estimated 201 million needing international humanitarian assistance. One of the problems is reaching those affected. Car maker Hyundai has unveiled a concept vehicle named Elevate which blends the technology found in electric cars with that found in robots to help it cover terrain beyond the limitations of even the most capable off-road vehicle. Elevate can be driven by first responders to a location like a traditional electric car. But when the terrain gets tough, it can use its "highly dexterous" robotic legs to move in any direction.

Liquid metal robots that can change their form and repair from damage just like the androids of the Terminator films could soon become a reality. Researchers in China have developed a palm-sized prototype inspired by T-1000 from the science fiction franchise, albeit a lot less sinister. The small, shape-shifting robot could be used to access environments that would be difficult for a human or fixed-shape bot to navigate, such as disaster zones. Liquid metal robots that can change their form and repair from damage just like the androids of the Terminator films could soon become a reality. The prototype, created by a team from the University of Science and Technology of China and the University of Wollongong in Australia is made up of a small plastic wheel, a lithium battery, and drops of gallium, a soft silvery metal, according to the South China Morning Post.

Being able to both walk and take flight is typical in nature, and now researchers are creating drones with similar capabilities. Scientists have developed a prototype drone that can both fly and drive - a breakthrough that could pave the way for flying cars in the future. The development could lead to machines that can fly into disaster zones and squeeze through tight spaces to transport objects or rescue people. The team developed various'path-planning' algorithms aimed at ensuring that the drones don't collide. To make them capable of driving, the team put two small motors with wheels on the bottom of each drone.

It has been dubbed the Robo-Olympics, and will see the world's most advanced robots go head to series in a series of ever more challenging events. Twenty five of the top robotics organizations in the world are competing for $3.5 million in prizes, and will take on a gruelling simulated disaster-response course during the two day contest. Robots will try to complete a series of challenge tasks selected by DARPA for their relevance to disaster response. The robots will start in a vehicle, drive to a simulated disaster building, and then they'll have to open doors, walk on rubble, and use tools. There will be a surprise task waiting for the robots at the end - which turned out to be turning a valve.

The 1556 earthquake that killed an estimated 830,000 people in the Shaanxi Province is but the deadliest example of China's long history with the natural disaster. The 1920 Haiyuan quake killed 273,000; the 1976 Tangshan earthquake claimed about 232,000 lives. Whether or not they hold to the historic view that earthquakes indicate heaven's displeasure, the modern Chinese aren't sitting idle as the ground trembles. Starting in the mid-1960s, the country established a system to improve prediction capabilities, response training, and public communications to reduce the impact of calamities. They enlisted satellites to shape post-disaster responses, but since quakes have a habit of knocking out the ground-based systems that deliver their images to those who need them, a view from space isn't always much help.

One of RobotsFor.Me's user interfaces, which let you control the lab's robots (a PR2, in this case) through a browser. Sonia Chernova wants you to train her robot. Two years ago, Chernova and some of her fellow roboticists at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Massachussets launched a remote robotics lab called RobotsFor.Me, a site where users can log in and teach robots how to function in physical space. It's both more and less exciting than it sounds. Participants might play a game where they rack up points based on the number of objects they can help the robot pick up in 10 minutes.