We’re moving a step closer to having real life Transformers among us! The Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) has developed this robot, barely thicker than a sheet of paper. It can only transform into two forms, a boat and a paper plane, at this time, but the hopes are that this can eventually be developed to provide larger scale transforming tools and equipment.
Could real life Transformers be far away – or failing that, masked crusaders, doing overtime, fighting crime? Check out the original report over at the Daily Telegraph online.
bignick1693
when i become a robotic engineer i shall make a real tf out of something like this and call it (something) then add prime to the end.
Tigertrack
Only if the box has a billion "Fragile" labels on it.
pikaprime12511
the paper-formers, papers in disguise! no but seroiusly, thats pretty cool! hopefully hasbro will hire a bunch chinese-stealling robbers to steal this technoligy, just imagine the new toys!
GBglide
And that is why humanity will truly fall….
snavej
This kind of Transformer could be delivered in the mail, like anthrax, but could it survive the journey?!
Takeout
That's what they say, but I bet that they're actually using a giant cube-shaped alien artifact to give life to technology.
Murasame
thygriever
If anyone has read the comic "The Incredible Change Bots", which is incredibly awesome and a spoof of transformers, the ultimate weapon of the evil scientist was a transforming origami that killed a guy and evaded all the robot's blasters lol. So much resemblance!
GigatronSama
See this is the first step. Now we need to get them to combine, and we'll be ready when the aliens invade. Also they may need to build a power supply that can run on hot bloodedness and manly spirit.
SteadyMobin
man please…A damn paper airplane and a Mayflower dont add up to a missile launching, rapid fire, damn near bullet proof Transformer.
boxorak
Interesting…but unless it sounds like a robotic Frank welker, I'm not impressed.
MegaMoonMan
Kinda silly loading it with magnets like that – all you need to do to make it fail is put it on some metal.
Lock Cade
Meh… call me when they actually build giant transforming robots.
replica
good line. i think a real transformer would have to be made partially out of stuff like that and partially out of normal stuff for wheels and such like. and thats without going into the whole "animate robot" thing.
Edit:wait, couldnt you make a cube out of that stuff?!? all spark cube is i quote "responsible for creating cybertron and the transformers". this could possibly be an early step towards real transformers.thus, all spark cube(or at least the net of an all spark cube.
knightmare6
You know somewhere out there someone is developing the shapeshifting rock and scissor to counter the paper!
Railguard
Well along with this the military have commisioned a vehilce that IS armed, has ai, is 6 wheeled and can go out into the field do its job and come back for fuel and ammo then go back into the field. Ok maybe its more like a terminator but its here now.
Bgrngod
Yeah, but this thread has a fun video to watch
Tigertrack
"But it is anticipated that in future it will be used to create full-sized cars and aircraft that morph as they move, or robots that can "flow" like mercury into small openings, or multipurpose military uniforms that can adapt to different environments."
Hmmmmm, I'm thinking T2! Forgot the exact "serial number" of that liquid-metal dude, but this is pretty cool. Anybody else concerned about something similar to Skynet being created?
ANDROID PRIME
1… 2… 3…. paper beats humanity
blackout501st
WELL DUH! that little peace of paper is already a transformer! hes a robot in disguise! of course there not going to reveal pictures of his robot mode! that would totally blow his cover!