Robotics Online is carrying an editorial written by DARPA's recently departed IT Director, Dr. Mark L. Swinson (he now works at Sandia's ISRC). Entitled Robotic Form and Function: Creatures and Humanoids , the editorial addresses the potential of robotics in the coming century and the diverse number of forms that are being taken by robots. It also speculates that the development of humanoid robots may rekindle AI research.