With the Carnivorous Domestic Entertainment Robots James Auger, Jimmy Loizeau and Alex Zivanovic propose a new type of domestic robot that creates a new category of object that exists somewhere between a product and predatory pet. The artists contend that if robots are ever to be welcomed into people's homes, they'll need to fit in with the rest of the furniture, and earn their keep. Their prototypes trap and digest pests like flies and mice to gain energy. Traditional fly-catchers, using sticky-tape and UV light have no method to manage the waste produced by the carcass of the pest. The Carnivorous Domestic Entertainment Robots prototypes power themselves with special fuel cells that are able to produce electricity by processing the bodies of flies, and in one case, mice.

These unsettling apparati, including a sticky conveyor belt clock and moth-attracting death lamp are a bizarre hybrids between machine and living organism. They are an example of the emerging field of 'critical design' or 'speculative design', where designers create prototypes to stimulate debate, discussion, and in some cases controversy.

transmediale.10 are showing a series of Carnivorous Domestic Entertainment Robots at the House of World Cultures, including the Flypaper robotic clock, the Coffee table robot, and the Lampshade robot.

Flypaper Robotic Clock: At the base of the roller, a scraper removes any captured insects. They fall into the microbial fuel cell beneath, where bacteria digest the fly and cause chemical changes that the cell can extract power from. The energy is used to power the LCD clock and keep the roller revolving.

Coffee Table Robot: This is a coffee table that doubles as a mouse-trap. Crumbs are placed on the table to encourage mice to climb up the hole in the far-right table leg. When the mouse stands on the trapdoor in the centre, sensors open the door and it falls into the microbial fuel cell. The digested mouse generates the energy to power the trap door, sensor and an LED graphic display on the front of the table.

Lampshade Robot: This robot is inspired by carnivorous pitcher plants. Insects are lured into the shade by ultraviolet lights - which are lit only at night - and become trapped. Trapped insects eventually fall into the fuel cell below. This generates electricity to power the ultraviolet LEDs, which can then switch on to trap more flies when the house lights are off.
 

> http://www.materialbeliefs.com/prototypes/cder.php
> http://www.auger-loizeau.com