Engineers at the University of Waterloo in Canada have developed a tiny robot that mimics geckos ad inchworms that may one day help doctors with their surgeries, according to IET.
The tiny, soft robot uses UV light and magnetic force to move on any surface, even up walls and across ceilings.
The First of Its Kind
The tiny robot is the first of its kind in a way that it doesn't require an external power supply connection that allows for remote operation. Thus, it could, one day, deliver versatility for potential applications in healthcare.
The tiny robot, called GeiwBot, is made from a smart material and inspired by geckos and inchworms. It is roughly four centimeters long, three millimeters wide, and one millimeter thick.
It was constructed with the use of liquid-crystal elastomers and synthetic adhesive pads. Its light-response polymer strip simulates the aching and stretching motion of an inchworm, while the magnet pads mimic a gecko's grip.
The soft robot paves the way for possible medical applications through remote operation inside the human body. It can also be used for searching or sensing dangerous or hard-to-reach places during rescue operations.
The Next Step
The researchers and engineers are now moving on to the next stop, where they will develop a light-driven climbing soft robot that doesn't need a magnetic field. It will also use near-infrared radiation instead of UV light for biocompatibility.
The Future of Soft Robotics
The future of soft robotics is very promising. By combining the principles of soft robotics with other emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computer vision, it will be possible to create robots capable of performing complex tasks that are not possible with traditional rigid robots.
Soft robots, such as surgical robots and prosthetics, can also be utilized in medical applications. There is also potential for their use in hazardous environments, such as space exploration and deep sea exploration. In the future, soft robotics could be used for a variety of applications, from manufacturing to healthcare.
Another potential application of soft robotics is automation in manufacturing processes such as assembly lines or 3D printing tasks which require precise movements without causing any damage on delicate components during operation.
Additionally, they can be utilized for precision surgery on small areas within a human body with minimal invasiveness while providing maximum accuracy and control over the procedure without risking harm to surrounding tissue structures.
Some researchers have begun exploring how soft robotic systems might interact safely with people - from helping elderly individuals move around more easily at home or aiding them when walking outside; to using tactile sensors embedded into its material structure.
It would provide valuable feedback about contact forces between itself and its environment, including humans, thus making it an ideal candidate for use cases involving physical interactions between machines and people alike!
Related article : NCU's 'Butterfly Bot' is a Soft Robot Capable of Swimming Fast Speeds, Inspired by the Manta Ray
