When hoi polloi think ofrobots , the wordsoftusually does n’t come to mind . Traditional machines aretypicallymade of sturdy materials , such as Al or blade . But scientist recently made a soft “ robot ” equal to of walking , jump , and swim using technology similar to the inflatable tube workforce recognise at car dealership .
PerPopular Science , research worker from the Netherlands ’ Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics ( AMOLF ) fancy out how to power the machine using a continuous airflow — no AI , software package , or electronics necessary . The closed book lies in the motorcar ’s four tube-shaped legs . Each limb would undulate around uncontrollably on its own , but when the tube are group , liquid physics allows them to synchronise , causing the automaton to “ walk . ”
Moreover , the automaton ’s oscillating legs can accommodate to different environments and manoeuvre around obstruction . For example , if you give up the machine into a consortium , it will automatically reorientate itself and “ swim ” forward . It ’s also pretty fast , reaching 30 body lengths per second at max . That ’s quick than a Ferrari can move , and much quicker than other gentle wind - power golem . check out out the video recording above to see it in action .
The subject , published in the journalScience , suggests that complicated designs and engineering are n’t always needed to make utile robots . The main tec of AMOLF ’s Soft Robotic Matter Group , Bas Overvelde , say in a statement , “ Simple object , like tube , can give rise to complex and operational behavior , provided we interpret how to harness the underlie physical science . ”
The scientists behind the project hope to see the technology used for different applications programme , like autonomous machines that can withstand uttermost environmental conditions on Earth and beyond . With the flow of air mechanism , conducting inquiry that requires locomotive machinery in distance could be a lot easy , they enounce .
Although the unexampled machine resemble a robot , Overvelde prefers not to call it that because there ’s “ no brain , no figurer ” controlling it . nevertheless , he believes it can surpass many robotic systems if by rights developed .
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