Logic gates inflated with fluorescent dye demonstrate the circuits in the soft robot. (via Harvard at Nature)
Just when you thought that the world would only produce hard, frigid, pre-programmed robots-well, here comes a curveball! Soft, squishy robots that propel themselves using the movement of gases produced internally are in the works.
If you were wondering why people care about soft robots, well, a main reason is medical devices. If an eye could be replaced by a small robotic device that felt and functioned more like a real eye, that would enhance the lives of many people who have lost or damaged eyes. Automated insulin pumps and all manner of prosthetics would be improved with the use of softer automated materials. The problem is that a lot of soft materials just don’t work very well. A lot of the parts used to make conventional robots are hard, and hardness helps them work well.
Redesigning a robot to be soft and yet highly functional is a big design challenge, essentially designing the same device from the ground up. Instead of batteries and wires, the soft robot contains fuel cells, various silicone gels, and sensors. Coordinating research efforts from teams around the world, the primary researchers at Harvard developed one of the cutest possible prototypes: a 7 centimeter wide octopus. T0 move, the octopus pushes gas-a byproduct of hydrogen peroxide and platinum- into its limbs from reaction centers.
Those reaction centers are paired with logic gates, which push the limbs in a pre-programmed direction. Right now, all the little octopus can do is raise four legs, then alternate with the other four. Not terribly sophisticated, yet it demonstrates something important: soft robots can move on their own. With a little tweaking, soft robots could become more sophisticated, assisting with such things as search-and-rescue and surgeries. Those days may be a few years off, but this little robots hints that they are coming.
Aside from how the Octobot moves, the building process shows a next level of 3D printing that includes soft lithography to create the "circuit." If you would like to see more about Harvard's soft robotics, check out their site after this link.
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