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Soft Robots

All articles tagged with #soft robots

science-and-technology1 year ago

"Reviving Ancient Sea Creatures: The Birth of Soft Robotics"

Scientists are creating soft robots based on the movement of ancient animals, such as the pleurocystitids that lived 500 million years ago, using a process they call "paleobionics." These robots, made from soft materials, mimic the mechanical properties of living tissues and are suitable for medical devices, enhancing efficiency in various tasks, and potentially for ocean or space exploration. By studying extinct creatures, the researchers aim to increase understanding of evolution and biomechanics, potentially uncovering valuable insights from the 99% of animals that have existed throughout Earth's history.

via The Jerusalem Post|
#biomechanics#evolution#paleobionics
technology2 years ago

Revolutionary 3D Printing Technique Creates Incredibly Lifelike Robot Hand

Scientists have developed a breakthrough 3D printing technique that allows for the creation of a more human-like robotic hand with 3D-printed bones, ligaments, and tendons. The technique, known as vision-controlled jetting (VCJ), enables the cross-layering of up to four plastics to create a firm but soft robotic part that can scale. This advancement could lead to the development of more complex and durable robots, making automated industries safer and better suited for handling fragile goods. The slow-curing plastics used in VCJ result in more durable and elastic printed components, allowing for intricate internal structures and mimicking nature's biomechanics.

via Livescience.com|
#3d-printing#biomechanics#industrial-safety
robotics2 years ago

Robots Master Complex Mazes Without Brains

Researchers have developed a "brainless" soft robot that can autonomously navigate complex environments using physical intelligence. The robot, made of ribbon-like liquid crystal elastomers, can turn on its own due to its asymmetrical design, allowing it to move in arcs and navigate mazes without getting stuck. The robot's movement is driven by its structural design and material, eliminating the need for computer or human guidance. This advancement in soft robot design opens up possibilities for applications where robots can harvest heat energy from their environment.

via Neuroscience News|
#autonomous-robots#maze-navigation#neuroscience
technology2 years ago

"Revolutionizing Everyday Objects with Liquid Metal and Flexible Electrodes"

Scientists have developed a liquid metal coating that can be applied to paper and other materials without an adhesive, allowing them to be turned into smart objects. The metal coating conducts heat and electricity and can be used to create origami shapes that can re-fold themselves. The researchers also built 3D structures out of individual pieces of flat, metal-coated paper that could keep their shape without falling apart. The self-adhesive liquid metal coating could be an asset to soft robots in alien environments and could provide a new route for designing space explorers.

via Ars Technica|
#liquid-metal#origami#smart-objects
technology2 years ago

Pangolin-inspired tiny robot delivers lifesaving medications and stops internal bleeding.

A team of researchers at the Max Planck Institute in Munich have designed a miniature robot inspired by the flexible motion of pangolins. The robot, which is 1 cm by 2 cm by 0.2 mm in size, has overlapping scales and can heat up to 70°C to perform medical treatments on tissues. The robot can also demagnetize to release cargo onto tissues, which could be used to deliver drugs in the future. The robot's ability to roll and tumble about is triggered by external magnetic stimulation, allowing it to change from a flat to a curled posture and locomote.

via Good News Network|
#medical-procedures#miniature-robots#pangolin
technology2 years ago

"Self-Healing Robot Skin Mimics Human Functionality, Scientists Say"

Scientists at Stanford University have developed a self-healing synthetic skin made of silicone and polypropylene glycol materials that stretch like human skin without tearing, while magnetic properties allow the skin to self-align. The skin could lead to 'reconfigurable soft robots that can change shape and sense their deformation on demand,' ultimately transforming warfare. The team demonstrated how the stretchy skin works by placing three broken pieces of the robot on a table. In moments the pieces began to move toward each other and re-aligned into one piece. The long-term vision of the skin is to create devices that can recover from extreme damage.

via Daily Mail|
#robotics#self-healing-skin#soft-robots
robotics2 years ago

Compostable 'Artificial Muscles' Designed by Grad Student.

A team of engineers, including a graduate student from CU Boulder, has designed a new kind of robotic actuator, or "artificial muscle," made entirely of sustainable ingredients that can dissolve naturally in soil over a few months. The muscles are versatile and can power robotic arms and legs with life-like movements. The team tested various biodegradable candidates for replacing the plastic pouches in their actuators and found a biodegradable polyester blend, commonly used in shopping bags, to be a good option. The new materials system now opens up interesting avenues for applications that require components designed for single- or short-term use, such as in the area of food handling or medical applications.

via Tech Xplore|
#artificial-muscles#biodegradable#engineering
robotics2 years ago

Spy robot self-destructs after gathering intel

Researchers have developed a soft robot that can collect intelligence and then melt into an oily puddle when exposed to UV light and heat. The robot is made of a silicone composite that degrades quickly, making it easy to dispose of. It can detect temperature changes and alert researchers, and it utilizes photodetectors to sense light from a UV lamp. The robot was tested in a simulated mission where it scouted an unknown environment and then destroyed itself.

via BGR|
#heat#robotics#silicone-composite