# Episode 68: Bat-inspired robots - Rolf Mueller

- Show: [Robot Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk)
- Published: 2024-01-12
- Length: 28m
- Episode: 68
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2024-01-12-episode-68-bat-inspired-robots-rolf-mueller
- Listen: https://ukrobotics.libsyn.com/episode-sixty-eight-rolf-mueller

## Summary

Rolf Mueller, a professor of mechanical engineering at Virginia Tech, discusses his work on biomimetic flapping-wing robots and sonar systems designed to navigate complex natural environments. He explains how bats offload signal processing into their physical ear structures, enabling low-latency, low-data-rate autonomy that current robotic systems struggle to replicate. Mueller details using deep learning to extract navigation data directly from ultrasonic clutter echoes, achieving location precision comparable to GPS under foliage without building digital environment models. The research aims to apply these bio-inspired sensing and mobility principles to outdoor automation challenges like agriculture, environmental cleanup, and wildfire monitoring.

## Chapters

- [0:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2024-01-12-episode-68-bat-inspired-robots-rolf-mueller#t=8) Introduction: Rolf Mueller and Virginia Tech
- [2:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2024-01-12-episode-68-bat-inspired-robots-rolf-mueller#t=157) Flapping-wing robot design and degrees of freedom
- [5:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2024-01-12-episode-68-bat-inspired-robots-rolf-mueller#t=339) Biomimetic sonar vs. technical sonar limitations
- [8:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2024-01-12-episode-68-bat-inspired-robots-rolf-mueller#t=503) Morphological computation in bat ears and noseleaves
- [12:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2024-01-12-episode-68-bat-inspired-robots-rolf-mueller#t=749) Low-data-rate sensing and latency requirements
- [16:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2024-01-12-episode-68-bat-inspired-robots-rolf-mueller#t=963) Deep learning for direct echo interpretation
- [24:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2024-01-12-episode-68-bat-inspired-robots-rolf-mueller#t=1488) Applications in agriculture and environmental automation

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Virginia Tech (company)
- University of Brunei (company)
- LiDAR (tool)
- GPS (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [49. What Robots Can Learn from Starfish and Falcons](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-12-21-49-what-robots-can-learn-from-starfish-and-falcons) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Neurons Close the Loop from Insect Perception to Action](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2025-09-09-neurons-close-the-loop-from-insect-perception-to-action) (EE Times Current)
- [133. Mighty Morphing All Terrain Robots Made By Nature](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-08-01-133-mighty-morphing-all-terrain-robots-made-by-nature) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [233. Reading a Fish’s Mind to Build Smarter Robots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-11-18-233-reading-a-fishs-mind-to-build-smarter-robots) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Understanding Real Brains with Robotic Rats, and Vice Versa](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2023-09-25-understanding-real-brains-with-robotic-rats-and-vice-versa) (EE Times Current)

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