Shape-shifting robot escapes jail: A leap in adaptive technology
10:13 AM EDT, April 26, 2024
The robot changes its shape and escapes from a tiny metal-bar cell. While this may sound like a plot from a science fiction movie, a team of scientists has turned this idea into reality. They've created a robot capable of adapting to its environment by altering its form based on the situation.
Under the leadership of Dr. Chengfeng Pan from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the research team has developed an extraordinary robot. This creation can smoothly transition between solid and liquid states and possesses magnetic properties and the ability to conduct electricity. The team found inspiration in the sea cucumber—a marine organism without a spine.
How was the shape-shifting robot created?
Dr. Chengfeng Pan believes robots capable of shifting between solid and liquid states will prove to be highly functional in the future.
To construct the robot, the researchers employed a groundbreaking material known as a "magneto-active transition machine between solid and liquid phase," as described on the Eureka Alert news site. This material consists of magnetic particles embedded in gallium, a metal noted for its very low melting point (85.64°F), facilitating easy alterations in state with temperature changes.
Carmel Majidi from Carnegie Mellon University highlighted that these particles perform two roles. They enable the material to respond to magnetic fields, allowing for heating and significant phase changes. Additionally, they grant the robot mobility, enabling it to move under magnetic influence.
Through testing, the material demonstrated its ability to adapt. Scientists could compel the robots to navigate through obstacles or ascend walls by applying a magnetic field. They even split them into two, working cooperatively to transport small objects before recombining into their original shape. One remarkable test involved the robot escaping from a miniature jail.
Though the technology might prompt concerns, this diminutive device harbors a broad range of potential applications, from medicine to engineering. In one instance, the robot extracted foreign objects from a stomach model and delivered medication. The scientists foresee its use as an intelligent soldering agent for assembly and electronic repair, as well as a mechanized "screw" for facilitating assembly in challenging-to-access areas.
