Researchers at MIT have come up with a slithering rubber robot that could come to represent a paradigm shift in the world of robotics. We usually envision robots as having human-like forms, with boxes of machinery replacing flash and blood. However the recent years have seen an explosion in the interest in and development of bio-inspired robots whose shapes and movements are inspired by animals.
This rubber robot is clearly inspired by snakes. It is a 3D-printed, soft-shelled tentacle robot that is designed to navigate through pipes, channels and burrows. It could potentially be used from anything to inspecting nuclear power plants to exploring distant planets.
The MIT researchers will present and demonstrate their slithery rubber robot at the International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems later this month.
Serpentine Rubber Robots
This 3D Printed Robot Slithers Like a Snake
Trend Themes
1. Bio-inspired Robotics - Developing robots whose shapes and movements are inspired by animals presents opportunities for more efficient and adaptable designs.
2. Soft Robotics - The development of soft-shelled tentacle robots opens up possibilities for navigating confined spaces and challenging environments.
3. Additive Manufacturing - The use of 3D-printing technology in robotics allows for rapid prototyping and customization, enabling faster innovation.
Industry Implications
1. Manufacturing - The manufacturing industry can explore the integration of bio-inspired robotics and additive manufacturing to improve production processes and create new products.
2. Energy - The energy industry can utilize soft robotics for inspecting hard-to-reach areas in power plants and pipelines, improving safety and efficiency.
3. Space Exploration - The space exploration sector can benefit from the use of bio-inspired robots to explore distant planets with greater agility and adaptability.