Scientists create first soft robots that can walk off machine that makes them
The flexible, four-legged devices were developed using a new 3D printing system, which could pave the way for the use of intelligent soft robotic systems with no electronic parts.
Soft machines – made from compliant materials such as soft plastics – have huge potential for use in areas such as nuclear decommissioning, the biomedical sector and in space, researchers say.
A lack of standardised design and manufacturing processes, expense and the need for specialist expertise has so far limited real-world use of the devices, experts say.
A team from the University of Edinburgh sought to overcome these challenges by developing a low-cost, desktop 3D printing system for creating soft robots.
READ MORE:
Scottish tech company reveals plans to double job numbers
Heriot-Watt team achieves a revolution in photonics
Augmented reality tech transforming visits to Scottish castles to go global
Their user-friendly setup can be assembled for less than £400 using off-the-shelf parts.
The team demonstrated the capabilities of their new system by creating robots made solely from a soft plastic material and powered by air pressure.
Once printed, the palm-sized devices are connected to a compressed air supply before walking out of the machine on which they were made.
Building and operating the new system – known as the Flex Printer – requires little prior knowledge, with first-time users able to assemble it and begin making robots in just a few days, the team says.
They have made their designs publicly available to broaden access to soft robotic technologies and to help foster collaboration and improvements to the system.
Soft robot walks off machine (Image: University of Edinburgh)
The findings are published in the journal Device, part of the prestigious Cell Press group of journals. The research was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
The lead engineer on the project was Maks Gepner, with support from Jonah Mack, both PhD students in the Centre for Doctoral Training in Robotics and Autonomous Systems. The lead academic was Professor Adam A. Stokes, Head of the Institute for Bioengineering at The University of Edinburgh.
Maks Gepner, of the University's Schools of Engineering and Informatics, said: 'It used to take years to figure out how to print using these materials. Using our new platform, anyone can now easily print things which were previously thought to be impossible. This is a game-changer for engineers and artists alike.
'Our hope is that this technology will help drive the next wave of research breakthroughs. Without the long-standing manufacturing and design bottlenecks holding it back, we believe soft robotics is ready to make a major real-world impact."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Cat dementia is similar to human Alzheimer's disease ...Tech & Science Daily podcast
Listen here on your chosen podcast platform. Cats develop dementia similarly to humans with Alzheimer's disease. Scientists hope their findings lead to new treatments for both humans and our feline friends. For more, we spoke to the lead author, Dr Robert McGeachan, at the University of Edinburgh's Royal School of Veterinary Studies. A swarm of jellyfish forced the shutdown of France's largest nuclear power plant, Gravelines. But how unusual is this event? And, Reddit blocks the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine from archiving large portions of its site. Also in this episode: -How blowing through a conch shell could alleviate the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea -Lola Young urges Keir Starmer to block Rosebank oil and gas development projects -Natalie the Nerd builds a transparent GameBoy Colour
National Geographic
3 days ago
- National Geographic
What is acid rain?
Acid rain is any form of precipitation that contains high levels of nitric and sulfuric acids. First coined by Scottish chemist Robert Angus Smith in 1852, acid rain can also occur in the form of snow, fog, and tiny bits of dry material that settle to Earth. Normal rain is slightly acidic, with a pH of 5.6, while acid rain generally has a pH between 4.2 and 4.4. Here's what causes acid rain and how it effects our planet and our bodies. Causes of acid rain Rotting vegetation and erupting volcanoes release some chemicals that can cause acid rain, but most acid rain is a product of human activities. The biggest sources are coal-burning power plants, factories, and automobiles. But nitrogen oxides contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, a major pollutant that can be harmful to people. Both gases cause environmental and health concerns because they can spread easily via air pollution and acid rain. Acid rain has many ecological effects, especially on lakes, streams, wetlands, and other aquatic environments. Acid rain makes such waters more acidic, which results in more aluminum absorption from soil, which is carried into lakes and streams. That combination makes surface waters toxic to aquatic animals. (Water pollution is a rising global crisis. Here's what you need to know.) Some species can tolerate acidic waters better than others. However, in an interconnected ecosystem, what affects some species eventually affects many more throughout the food chain, including non-aquatic species such as birds. Acid rain and fog also damage forests, especially those at higher elevations. The dry deposition of acid robs the soil of essential nutrients such as calcium and cause aluminum to be released in the soil, which makes it hard for trees to take up water. Acids also harm tree leaves and needles.
Gizmodo
3 days ago
- Gizmodo
This Anker 3-Port 65W Foldable Charger Is Going for Peanuts, Never Seen a Price This Low
Think of a super-fast multi-device charger that can replenish the juice in everything from smartphones and Steam Decks to MacBook Pro and other power-hungry laptops, and your mind likely goes straight to one of those portable power stations. Sure, that would work well, but it's not exactly travel-friendly or something you want on your desk unless there's a power outage. Leave it to Anker to create a 3-port wall charger with 65 watts of high-speed charging power that can also fit in your hand or your pocket. That's the Anker 735 Charger, and it's a stunning Amazon deal right now for just $26. As if the regular $40 price isn't reasonable enough, at this price, you might want more than one. See at Amazon 'Only charger you need' is a bold statement indeed, but what else would you call a super-compact foldable wall charger (1.5 x 1.15 x 2.6 inches and 3.95 ounces) with two USB-C and one USB-A port that's capable of charging your smartphone, tablet, and laptop simultaneously? When you connect just one device at a time — say, a 13-inch 2020 MacBook Pro — you devote all 65W of charging power to it, enough to power it up at the same full speed as the massive Apple wall charger that came with it. That slender design really earns its stripes when you need to plug it into a tight space, either a wall outlet hiding behind furniture or a power strip with other devices hogging all the space. That teeny profile and light weight also make it the perfect travel companion so you can keep all of your devices powered up in a hotel room without scrambling for outlets that may or may not work. The Anker 735 is universally compatible — MacBooks, PC laptops, Chromebooks and Google Pixelbooks, tablets from Apple and Samsung and all their many competitors, earbuds and smartwatches, even handheld gaming consoles like the Nintendo Switch 2 and Steam Deck — they're all ready for fast, safe power-ups, as many as three at a time. And safe is a key word here — the Anker 735 has GaN II technology for upgraded heat dissipation so even with all that power surging into your devices, nothing gets fried. The pocket-sized Anker 735 Nano II 65W charger, its three ports, and its universal charging compatibility are there for the taking right now at Amazon. It's an incredible $26 price — 35% down from its regular $40 — that should have you seriously considering stocking up to bring fast charging to all the devices in the house and one for the road. See at Amazon
