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Scientists from North Carolina State University have demonstrated the capabilities of a caterpillar-inspired soft robot, which can navigate forward, backwards, and even manoeuvre through narrow gaps. The robot’s movement is achieved through an innovative arrangement of silver nanowires that utilise heat to control its bending, enabling users to guide it in various directions.
Yong Zhu, the corresponding author from North Carolina State University, explains that the caterpillar’s motion relies on the curvature of its body, with different curves used for forward and backward movements. Inspired by the caterpillar’s biomechanics, they have emulated this curvature in the caterpillar-bot using nanowire heaters to achieve similar movements.
The caterpillar-bot comprises two layers of polymer with distinct responses to heat. The bottom layer contracts while the top layer expands. By embedding a pattern of silver nanowires in the expanding layer, the researchers create multiple lead points to apply an electric current.
Through this process, they can selectively heat different sections of the nanowire pattern by applying electric current to specific lead points and adjusting the amount of heat by varying the current.
Yong Zhu, a researcher at North Carolina State University, has shed light on the challenges encountered in the captivating domain of soft robotics—the development of soft robots that can move in two distinct directions. As a prominent figure in the field, Zhu’s insights into the complexities and intricacies of soft robot locomotion offer profound implications for the future of robotics and automation.
The researchers successfully showcased the caterpillar bot’s precise control over its movements, enabling it to navigate through very narrow spaces, like slipping under a door. They achieved control over both forward and backward motion and the robot’s bending height at any given moment.
Soft robots require real-time data processing to make decisions on movement, interaction with the environment, and the execution of tasks. Information technology processes sensor data, interprets it, and sends appropriate commands to the robot’s actuators.
Furthermore, Zhu highlights the energy efficiency of this approach to driving motion in a soft robot, and he will elevate it further for its efficiency. Combining locomotion and sensor technologies can enable the robot to operate autonomously or semi-autonomously.
It can analyse the environment, make informed decisions, and adjust its movements, accordingly, reducing the need for constant human intervention and potentially speeding up rescue efforts.
Siddiq Qidwai, an NSF programme director, recognises the potential of advanced engineering solutions from unconventional disciplines, such as mechanics of materials, contributing to the interdisciplinary realm of soft robotics.
Another NSF programme director, Debora Rodrigues, emphasises the broader implications of this research and bio-inspired design, suggesting applications beyond the laboratory, such as wearable motion tracking in sports or healthcare.
“This innovation can further support performance in sports and healthcare,” he emphasised.
This research marks a significant milestone in the potential of advanced engineering solutions, particularly those pioneered by experts from nontraditional disciplines. It serves as a testament to the remarkable strides made at the intersection of various fields, combining innovative principles from mechanics of materials with cutting-edge soft robotics.
The potential of the caterpillar-bot’s locomotion technique integrated with sensors goes far beyond academic pursuits; it promises to transform lives, foster safer societies, and shape a future where humans and robots collaborate harmoniously to overcome the most pressing challenges of our time.