This Jumping Robot Merges the Best Features of Hard and Soft Robots
Rahul Kalvapalle — July 21, 2015 — Tech
References: ucsdnews.ucsd.edu & gizmag
This jumping robot, crafted together using the latest 3D-printing techniques and powered by butane gas, merges the very best features of hard robots and soft robots.
Both kinds of robots have disadvantages -- hard robots are faster and provide a more stable housing for electronics, but they are prone to breaking. Soft robots are more flexible and are safer but tend to be slow, and don't take impact too kindly. This robot brings together the stability of hard robots with the flexibility of soft robots.
According to one of the project's leaders, UC San Diego professor Michael Tolley, "bringing together soft and rigid materials will help create a new generation of fast, agile robots that are more robust and adaptable than their predecessors and can safely work side by side with humans."
Both kinds of robots have disadvantages -- hard robots are faster and provide a more stable housing for electronics, but they are prone to breaking. Soft robots are more flexible and are safer but tend to be slow, and don't take impact too kindly. This robot brings together the stability of hard robots with the flexibility of soft robots.
According to one of the project's leaders, UC San Diego professor Michael Tolley, "bringing together soft and rigid materials will help create a new generation of fast, agile robots that are more robust and adaptable than their predecessors and can safely work side by side with humans."
Trend Themes
1. Soft Robots - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop soft robots that combine flexibility, safety, and impact resistance with the stability and speed of hard robots.
2. 3d-printing Techniques - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore 3D-printing techniques to create robots with the best features of both hard and soft robots, improving their stability, adaptability, and speed.
3. Human-robot Collaboration - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Foster the development of robots that can safely work side by side with humans, leveraging the stability of hard robots and the flexibility of soft robots.
Industry Implications
1. Robotics - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Revolutionize the robotics industry by creating a new generation of fast, agile robots with improved stability, adaptability, and safety features.
2. Manufacturing - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Enhance manufacturing processes by incorporating 3D-printing techniques to produce robots that merge the best features of hard and soft robots.
3. Healthcare - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Transform the healthcare industry by developing soft robots that can safely interact with humans, enabling more efficient and collaborative healthcare delivery.
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