Scientists create soft robots able to walk out of the printers which made them
The flexible, four-legged devices were developed using a new 3D printing system with an innovative method of upside-down printing.
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 said.
A lack of scalable manufacturing and standardised design causes technical and financial barriers to the use of such devices, the scientists said.
The Edinburgh University team from sought to overcome these challenges by developing a low-cost, desktop 3D printing system for creating soft robots.
Their user-friendly setup can be assembled for under £400 using off-the-shelf parts.
The team demonstrated the capabilities of their new system by creating robots made from a soft plastic material and powered by air pressure.
Once printed, the robots are connected to a compressed air supply before walking out of the machine on which they were made.
The researchers believe this could pave the way for the use of intelligent soft robotic systems with no electronic parts.
Lead engineer on the project, Maks Gepner, 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.'
Mr Gepner was supported on the project by fellow PhD student at the Centre for Doctoral Training in Robotics and Autonomous Systems, Jonah Mack, and lead academic Professor Adam A Stokes, head of the university's Institute for Bioengineering.
Building and operating their 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 said.
They have made their designs publicly available to broaden access to soft robotic technologies and to help foster collaboration and improvements to the system.
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The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
How two scholars may have been targets for racial 'science'
The eldest and second son respectively of a European father who practised medicine on Barbadian sugar plantations and owner of enslaved people, and a mother of African descent, the brothers made their home in the New Town's Frederick Street. But over the course a year both brothers were dead, victims of illnesses that ran rampant through Edinburgh's insanitary streets. Laid to rest one above the other in a grave in now lost cemetery grounds linked to South Leith Parish Church, their mixed heritage had not gone unnoticed. Line engraving of Edinburgh University buildings by W.H. Lizars, 1829, after T.H. Shepherd. (Image: Public domain/Wellcome Collection) For the members of the Phrenological Society of Edinburgh, preoccupied with the now long discredited pseudoscience of identifying racial differences through cranial analysis, the skulls from two men from a European father and African-descent mother – a racial mix they found particularly fascinating – would be considered a welcome addition to their collection. And for unscrupulous individuals in the city more than willing to creep around city graveyards under cover of darkness to feed demand for body parts in the name of medicine and science, delivering the skulls of the two brothers may well have represented a handsome payday. Now, a new study by Dr Simon H. Buck, a research fellow at the university's Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, has uncovered links between the unfortunate George and Robert Richards, and two skulls that have sat for decades on the shelves of the Skull Room within the University of Edinburgh's Anatomical Museum. Although first recorded as part of the 1858 catalogue of the Museum of the Phrenological Society of Edinburgh, labels on the skulls indicate they belong to two students of mixed African and European heritage who died in Edinburgh in 1832 and 1833 respectively. Following research spanning Edinburgh and Barbados and that includes matriculation rolls, burial records and phrenological catalogues, it's now thought the skulls may well be those of the two brothers. It raises, says Dr Buck's report, the 'morbid irony' that when the university took over the Edinburgh Phrenological Society's collection and transferred it into its Department of Anatomy, that it acquired the skulls of its very own students. Read more by Sandra Dick: His research, recently published in the Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, also points out that, unlike many remains stored in the university's collection, it may be possible to trace living descendants of the brothers, raising the possibility of repatriation and reunion. Dr Buck's study points out: 'The rest of these individuals' skeletons may still reside nearby in Edinburgh (i.e. in South Leith Parish Church's cemetery). 'Unlike the vast majority of the colonially derived crania within the Anatomical Museum, then, the re-unification of these students' body parts is, at least theoretically, possible.' However, the study stresses that further research would be necessary particularly as, so far at least, the brothers' graves have not been found. Read more by Sandra Dick: The study also points out that there remain unanswered questions and limited information surrounding what exactly happened to the brothers and exactly how their skulls ended up in the society's collection. However, the findings do offer a sobering glimpse into research culture at the time, the shocking theft within Britain of body parts of people of African descent for the purposes of racial science, and how the brothers – wealthy and privileged enough to afford to study at one of Britain's leading universities – should end up targets for followers of pseudoscience, some of whom may well have been their fellow students. 'The presence of the students' skulls in the collection provides a particularly shocking example of how students of colour experienced racism in 19th-century Britain,' the study adds. 'These two students were posthumous victims of the violent logics of a racial science practised by a significant minority of Edinburgh's citizens, students and medical professionals." (Image: Agency) Although there are still gaps that can't prove once and for all that the skulls are those of the brothers, the research has uncovered far more details than is usually known about remains within Edinburgh's Anatomical Museum. 'The majority of Indigenous human remains in museum stores are anonymous, which, as science rendered them as 'data' and 'research resource,' contributed to their objectification and commodification,' adds the study. The skulls formed part of a collection of around 400 acquired by the Edinburgh Phrenological Society, founded by two brothers: George Combe, a lawyer, and Andrew Combe, a doctor. Like the Richards brothers, they had also studied at the university, while a number of professors were also among the society's active members at the time of their deaths. By collecting skulls from around the world, the society explored theories surrounding phrenology, the long discredited science that claimed to read intellect and moral character from the contours of the skull. Their research, however, also became a vehicle for racial classification. Nineteenth century phrenologists believed the contours of the skull were linked to mental traits and characteristics (Image: Spurzheim, J. G. (1825) Public Domain/Wellcome Collection) To carry out their studies and comparisons, the society required a regular stream of skulls. They showed particular zeal for those they believed might support their theories – people of mixed heritage, such as the brothers, held particular interest. The society's collection is part of the anatomical museum's holdings, which includes approximately 1,500 skulls housed in its so-called 'Skull Room'. In recent years the university, which carried what's thought to be Scotland's first repatriation 75 years ago, has strived to identify and repatriate where possible. According to Dr Buck, records point to the brothers' their father, George Richards, also having been educated in the city before making his way to Barbados to practice medicine. There, he kept enslaved people, one of whom may well have been the brothers' own mother. His death, before February 1829, led to his estate, including enslaved people, being distributed to, among others, his sons. When George and Robert arrived in Edinburgh, the city was a magnet for aspiring scholars from across the empire eager to absorb its enlightenment values and learn at the side of some of the world's most revered professors. Their journey to Scotland would have been at great expense, probably paid for from their inheritance. They would have found themselves in a tightly packed city. And although they made their home in the less overcrowded New Town, the squalid living conditions and insanitary closes of the Old Town meant disease was rife. Divinity scholar Robert, 18, died first of typhoid fever in 1832. A few months later in March 1833, George, 21, succumbed to smallpox. 'Both were common afflictions in Edinburgh in the 1830s; indeed, the Richards brothers' deaths speak to a longer history of students who suffered and died from such diseases while undertaking their studies in Edinburgh,' states the report. University of Edinburgh Old College (Image: Jane Barlow/PA) Although there's no record of how the Phrenological Society acquired the skulls, the study points out the early 19th century was a time when growing interest in human anatomy inspired by advances in surgical methods had sparked demand for cadavers for medical research and education. With only executed murderers' corpses legally eligible for dissection, 'resurrectionists' or 'body-snatchers' roamed morgues and graveyards to supply a thriving black market. It adds: 'The crania of these two students were procured in the wake of nationwide graverobbing scandals, including the notorious Burke and Hare murders in Edinburgh in 1828. 'It is possible, of course, that the 'resurrection men' or 'body-snatchers' who supplied anatomists in Edinburgh with cadavers were called upon to acquire these students' crania.' Read more by Sandra Dick: The research adds: 'Given phrenologists' preoccupations with identifying racial differences through cranial analysis, it can be assumed that the racialisation of these two individuals as 'Mulatto' – a racial category that both fascinated and bewildered phrenologists – is what sparked an interest in their skulls. 'The individual(s) who stole the students' skulls and 'gifted' or sold them to the Phrenological Society were possibly driven by such motivations.' There remain gaps in records and confusing documents which mean the full story of the Richards brothers might never be told. "All we know is that some person or persons – fellow students, medical professionals, members of the Phrenological Society or grave-robbers acting on their behalf – were aware of the deaths of these two so-called 'Mulatto' students and perceived their skulls to be a valuable phrenological resource," the study adds. 'It is important to also reflect on the worlds in which racially minoritised students in the past lived and studied, including the racially motivated harms and indignities many will have faced in life and, as the story of these students' skulls would appear to indicate, in death.' A University of Edinburgh spokesperson said: "We take our duty of care very seriously and all remains in our collections are looked after with the upmost dignity and respect. "We have teams of experts responsible for ensuring our historically significant archives are preserved, as well as being accessible for non-invasive research projects and outreach initiatives that help to enhance our understanding of the world. "We are committed to learning lessons from our past, including addressing our colonial legacy and its contemporary impact. "We work with many communities around the world to engage with our collections and facilitate the return of remains and artefacts." Further details on University of Edinburgh repatriations can be found here
Daily Mail
31-07-2025
- Daily Mail
The HP Envy 6100 all-in-one color printer is nearly half OFF for a limited time - Bonus $50 ink cards!
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more Get ready to upgrade your ' WFH ' for good! When it comes to working from home, comfort and efficiency are at the top of our minds. That is why we have our eye on a brand new HP printer (that, for a limited time, is 46 percent off). Whether you are fielding paperwork for clients, printing worksheets for your kiddos, or running your own Etsy store — having a fast, reliable printer at your disposal is priceless. The HP Envy 6100 All-in-One Color Printer does more than just get the job done, and with an overflowing amount of 5-star reviews, we guarantee this will be one home office addition you never regret purchasing. The innovative printer is designed with professional quality, from its planet-forward cartridges down to its touchscreen display. Printing is no longer a chore when you use the HP Envy 6100 All-in-One Color Printer because its reliable WiFi-powered controls and accompanying print app make getting your important documents easier than ever. Users can not believe the efficiency, with one saying: 'Great printer! I like how compact it is. Very easy set up. Great price. Free and super fast shipping... Very happy with this purchase. I can now print wirelessly from all my devices which I couldn't do with my old printer.' Unlike other printers that make promises they can not keep, the HP Envy 6100 All-in-One Color Printer lives up to its name, with one user calling it the best 'budget color printer' on the market. Whether you need to print, copy, or scan, this compact machine keeps up and looks good while it does with a sleek white exterior. Each tray holds 100 sheets of paper and can print 10 (black) pages per minute. With speed this fast, you will have your freshly printed documents ready for you before you even turn your head. One user said: 'The printer itself works pretty flawlessly using the HP Smart App. The initial setup was easy, as the app took you through step by step, from connecting to the internet to aligning the printer heads. It's easy to print photos and documents directly from your phone without having to deal with a computer too!' Trust us, the HP Envy 6100 All-in-One Color Printer is going to be your new secret weapon. Make sure to check it out now while it is still 46 percent off with code WELCOME20 till 7/31 and 20NEWQ through 8/10.
Scotsman
31-07-2025
- Scotsman
Chancellor Rachel Reeves places Edinburgh at forefront of Britain's AI drive
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has marked her first official visit to Edinburgh University by touring the site of the UK's next national supercomputer. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The visit followed the launch of the UK Government's new Compute Roadmap, which set out the long-term plan to expand computing infrastructure and position the country as a global leader in artificial intelligence and scientific innovation. Seen as vital to the national drive, funding of up to £750m for the new supercomputer was confirmed in last month's Chancellor's Spending Review. Edinburgh University principal Professor Sir Peter Mathieson with Chancellor Rachel Reeves, and Mark Parsons, director of EPCC | supplied Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ms Reeves was welcomed to the university by Principal and Vice-Chancellor Sir Peter Mathieson and Professor Mark Parsons, director of the Edinburgh Parallel Computing Centre (EPCC), which houses existing supercomputer ARCHER2 within its Advanced Computer Centre, located at the university's Easter Bush Campus in Midlothian. As part of the Compute Roadmap, EPCC was named as the first in a new network of National Supercomputing Centres that will be set up across the UK. The university's new status as a National Supercomputing Centre, as well as home to the next national supercomputer, places Edinburgh and the wider region at the centre of a nationwide effort to drive technological innovations and support industry using computing and AI. During her visit, the Chancellor hosted a roundtable with tech sector leaders, founders and CEOs, who are leveraging supercomputing and data and discussed how the UK government's Industrial Strategy, particularly the Digital and Technologies Sector plan can support SMEs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Already regarded as the birthplace of AI research and learning in Europe, the university has been a world leader in AI for more than six decades. For more than 30 years it has pioneered the use of high-performance computing technologies that have created breakthroughs in health, advanced engineering and climate change solutions. Reeves said: 'Scottish innovation has changed the world and we'll ensure it remains a global leader in the technologies of the future. 'The £750 million investment we've made here will see Edinburgh become the hub of our supercomputing power, pioneering new technology and driving economic growth in all four corners of the UK. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Through our Plan for Change we're investing in Britain's renewal, supporting the well-paid jobs of the future and making working people better off.' Professor Sir Peter Mathieson said: 'The Chancellor's announcement to invest in a new national supercomputer was a strong endorsement of our university's expertise and track record in delivering world-leading technology. 'The visit gave us a welcome opportunity to showcase our state-of-the-art facility and share how we will continue to play a key role in the UK's advancement in computing power. We look forward to working with the UK Government and partners on this major national project.' Professor Mark Parsons said: 'Our status as the first National Supercomputing Centre, alongside the new supercomputer, will enable us to push the boundaries of computing and AI and unlock new advances and economic growth for the benefit of society.'
