A tiny robot that could one day help doctors perform surgery was inspired by the gecko’s incredible grasping ability and the inchworm’s efficient locomotion.
Developed by chemical engineers at the University of Waterloo, the new technology uses ultraviolet (UV) light and magnetic forces to move elongated robots across walls and ceilings and across any surface.
It is the first soft robot of its kind that does not require connection to an external power source, allowing remote control and versatility for potential applications such as assisting a surgeon or searching otherwise inaccessible locations. to
“This work marks the first time a global soft robot has climbed an inverted surface, advancing the state-of-the-art innovation in soft robotics,” said Professor Boxin Zhao. “We are optimistic about its potential and are further developing in several different areas.”
Made of smart materials, the robot, which the researchers named GeiwBot after the creature that inspired it, has been modified at the molecular level so that geckos attach and detach powerful grippers from their feet. You can imitate the method.
This allows the robot (approximately 4cm long, 3mm wide and 1mm thick) to climb vertical walls and ceilings without being tethered to a power source.
Zhao and his research team, working at the Surface Science and Bio-nanomaterials Laboratory, built a robot using liquid crystal elastomers and synthetic sticky pads. A light-sensitive polymer strip simulates the arching and stretching motion of an inchworm, while gecko-inspired magnetic pads at each end provide grip.
“Although there are still limitations to overcome, this development represents an important milestone for the application of biomimicry and smart materials to soft robots,” said Zhao of the University of Waterloo Nanotechnology Endowment Chair. I’m here. “Nature is a great source of inspiration, and nanotechnology is an exciting way to apply its lessons.”
Unrestrained soft robots pave the way for potential surgical applications remotely operated within the human body to sense or locate dangerous or hard-to-reach locations during rescue operations.
The researchers’ next step is to develop a light-powered climbing soft robot that doesn’t require a magnetic field and uses near-infrared radiation instead of ultraviolet radiation to improve biocompatibility.
Other researchers in the Department of Chemical Engineering are also working to develop new soft and programmable materials that respond to external stimuli such as heat, light, electric and magnetic fields. Professor Hamed Shahsavan is developing materials in his smart his lab to create a new generation of medical micro-his robots, artificial organisms and soft-his bio-his devices.
Original: Tiny new climbing robot inspired by geckos and inchworms
Than: University of Waterloo
