Ideas worth spreading

Robots inspired by cockroach ingenuity

1,164,294 views | Robert Full • TED2002

Insects and animals have evolved some amazing skills -- but, as Robert Full notes, many animals are actually over-engineered. The trick is to copy only what's necessary. He shows how human engineers can learn from animals' tricks.

Insects and animals have evolved some amazing skills -- but, as Robert Full notes, many animals are actually over-engineered. The trick is to copy only what's necessary. He shows how human engineers can learn from animals' tricks.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

About the speaker

Robert Full

See speaker profile

Robert Full studies cockroach legs and gecko feet. His research is helping build tomorrow's robots, based on evolution's ancient engineering.

Learn more

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.