3D printing "Yuan Robot" can be built step by step

The engineer team of the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) has developed a new design strategy and 3D printing technology that can build robots. The progress of this research was published in the magazine of Science, showing the structure of various micro -robots that can walk, move and jump.

The printed super material consists of internal networks that contain sensory, movement, and structural elements, which can be moved by itself according to the program. Because the internal network of mobile and sensing is in place, the only external component required is a small battery that is power to power the robot. The key to the new method is the design and printing of voltage super materials. The voltage super material is a complex lattice material that responds to the change of the shape and movement of the electric field, or the charge is generated based on physical power.

Zheng Xiaoyu, chief researcher and assistant professor at the School of UCLA Engineering, said that the new method will help develop a type of autonomous materials, which can replace the complex assembly process of current manufacturing robots. The new method closely integrates complex exercise, various sensing modes and programmable decision -making capabilities, similar to the coordination of nerves, bones and tendons in the biological system to perform control movement.

The research team demonstrates the integration of such robots and plate batteries and controllers to realize the complete autonomous operation of 3D printing robots. Each robot is as large as nails. These "meta -robots" are expected to bring new designs of biomedical robots, such as self -turning to the endoscope or "swimming robot" in the body; in the future, it can also explore the dangerous environment, such as quickly entering the closed space in the collapsed buildings, evaluating dangerous danger Level and look for people trapped in rubble.

Researchers said their driving elements can be accurately arranged in the entire robot to perform fast, complex and expanded movements on various types of terrain. They also proposed a method of designing robot materials so that users can make their own models and print the materials directly into the robot.

Researchers demonstrated 3 "meta robots" with different functions: one showed the ability to bypass the cornea and randomly place obstacles; the other can escape during the impact; the third one can walk on the rugged terrain, You can even jump slightly.

Circle of the editor -in -chief:

It is not new to convert electrical energy into activity materials for motion. It is not new to robots, but these robots usually have limited motion range and insufficient travel distance. And most robots, regardless of their size, are usually built by a series of complex manufacturing steps. It is these steps that integrate the limbs, electronics and source components of the robot; but it is also these processes that lead to a heavier weight, larger volume and less force output. In contrast, the robot material developed by UCLA consists of complex piezoelectric and structural components. The structure of these components cleverly meets the ability of high -speed stretching, bending, twisting, spinning, expansion, or shrinking. Each coin size. (Science and Technology Daily)

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