Revolutionary Shape-Shifting Robots Inspired by Origami Art
Imagine a single, plastic cubed structure that can transform into over 1,000 different configurations using only three active motors. Sounds like science fiction, right? Well, engineers at North Carolina State University have made it a reality, inspired by the ancient Japanese art of origami.
The Concept of Shape-Shifting Robots
According to Jie Yin, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, the goal is to achieve a multitude of versatile shapes with the fewest number of actuators powering the shape-shifting. The researchers drew inspiration from nature, using a hierarchical concept observed in layered muscle fibers, but with plastic cubes to create a transforming robot.
How It Works
The team assembled hollow, plastic cubes using a 3D printer and connected 36 of them together with rotating hinges. Some hinges were fixed with metal pins, while others were activated wirelessly with a motor. By controlling the movements of the motors, the cubes can transform into a wide range of shapes, including tunnel-like structures, bridge-like structures, and even multi-story architectures.
Untethered Transformer Bots
What's more, these untethered transformer bots can move forward, backward, and sideways without feet, simply by changing their shape. They can transform relatively quickly from flat to a boxlike larger cube, and even carry a load about three times their own weight.
Future Applications
The researchers envision these shape-shifting robots being used as deployable, configurable space robots and habitats. They can be sent to space flat and assembled into a shelter or habitat, and then disassembled as needed. The possibilities are endless, from search and rescue missions to space exploration.
FAQs
Q: How many motors are required to achieve shape-shifting?A: Only three active motors are needed to achieve over 1,000 different configurations.
Q: What is the inspiration behind this technology?A: The researchers drew inspiration from the ancient Japanese art of origami and the hierarchical concept observed in nature.
Q: What are the potential applications of this technology?A: The potential applications are vast, including space exploration, search and rescue missions, and more.
Conclusion
This revolutionary technology has the potential to transform the way we approach robotics and space exploration. With its ability to shape-shift into multiple configurations, it could pave the way for more versatile and efficient artificial systems. The possibilities are endless, and we can't wait to see where this technology takes us.
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