Better navigational systems could be a possibility following a scientist’s studies of the humble crab.
Robots with better mobility may also be a prospect thanks to Dr Peter Fraser's research into the crustaceans.
These potential applications and others will be highlighted by the University of Aberdeen academic when he showcases his research at Techfest 2009 – a major science and technology festival taking place in India.
Dr Fraser - who flies to Mumbai tomorrow - made a major breakthrough almost 40 years ago when he found that crabs have balancing systems very like those of humans.
The sensory biologist discovered that crabs and sharks have a sensory mechanism linked to their balancing system that allows them to regulate their depths when they are underwater.
The Senior Lecturer in the University's Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, who is also Chairman of the Royal Institute of Navigation Animal Navigation Group, said: "The importance of depth receptors is just being realised from a variety of different approaches.
"As well as increasing our understanding of the movements of fish and plankton, there is now a recognised need for artificial sensors mimicking the semicircular canal systems of crabs and sharks.
"Our semicircular canals work quickly and signal to us when we need to move our eyes to stabilize our visual images and keep track of our turns as we move around.
"Artificial vestibular systems could have a variety of applications from helping to tune the controls of robots, to improving navigation systems, especially when GPS signals are unavailable in buildings, under trees or during fast turns.
"Another application of our research is in space travel where astronauts exist in a world without gravity.
"Adverse effects of zero gravity could be countered by introducing a varying pressure system – copying that found in crabs and sharks – to the space craft to compensate."
Dr Fraser is delighted to have been invited to share his research at the prestigious three day Techfest event.
He said: "It is a tremendous opportunity to take our groundbreaking research to a brand new audience which I have told will include 45,000 students."