DARPA has let a contract for "EATR", the Energetically Autonomous Tactical Robot. The purpose of EATR is to seek out its own fuel from organic biomass in its environment. To quote their presentation:
Quote:
- Identify suitable biomass sources of energy and distinguish those sources from unsuitable materials
-Spatially locate and manipulate the sources of energy (e.g., cut or shred to size, grasp, lift, and ingest); and
- Convert the biomass to sufficient electrical energy to power the EATR™ subsystems
http://www.robotictechnologyinc.com/...20Overview.pdf
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This will be perfect for your upcoming Terminator / Soylent Green crossover. See slide 7; it even already mounts a chainsaw on an extensible arm.