Biomorphic research is in its infancy.

It is equivalent to early primitive life on this planet.

A series of biomorphic machines have been developed lately.

Biomorphs are artificial, autonomous mechanical devices built from a minimalist and biological approach. These 'creatures' thrive on 'chaotic reaction' and can survive in highly dynamic environments, virtually needing no human intervention. They also exhibit adaptive, emergent behaviour and competent strategies normally impossible to replicate using conventional digital methods. Not the least to say that these biomorphs work without microprocessors, i.e., no human instructions whatsoever.

Biomorphic architecture is yet another attempt at imparting several desirable characteristics of natural organisms to autonomous man made machines. Biomorphs are artificial, autonomous mechanical devices built from a minimalist and biological approach. The distinguishing feature of biomorphs is the use of simple non-linear elements stringed together to realise a control system that is highly adaptive and robust. They also exhibit adaptive, emergent behaviour and competent strategies normally impossible to replicate using conventional digital methods.

Biological creatures have superior locomotion strategies compared to current day robots. They move about in the natural world through various gaits and perform gait transitions smoothly. The primary research objective in this area is the investigation of rhythmic gait generation centered about nervous network design in a multi-limbed machine. Such machines are labeled as biomorphs. Real-world applications are not an immediate concern although possible projected applications could include better mobile biologically inspired robots utilized in reconnaissance, search and rescue, mine detection, object tracking, entertainment and elderly companionship. One of the most important applications of biomorphic machines is in the fabrication of biomorphic explorers for space exploration and NASA is at the forefront of this research application.

The biomorphic machines that we study at the NUS Mechatronics and Research laboratory operate without the use of programs or microprocessors, rather they work on dynamical rules of oscillatory systems. As a result, the component count and costs are significantly lower. The drawback here is that the complexity of such biomorphic machines are greatly increased.

Many other hurdles in material science, motion mechanics, energy distribution, actuator designs etc. have to be overcome before a new species can emerge as a useful social entity.

It is aimed to fabricate a mechanical prototype for validation to discover and design a minimal, optimal nervous network controller. And, then to create a competent biomechanical platform.