Shape-shifting robots promise a medical revolution
Scientists from the University of California, Santa Barbara have created robots that can change shape like a liquid and harden like steel. This groundbreaking achievement could revolutionise medicine and other fields.
Robots that can transform like living organisms. This is not science fiction; it is the latest achievement in science. According to SciTech Daily, researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara, led by Matthew Devlin, developed robots inspired by processes occurring in embryos. These innovative devices can change shape and transition from a solid to a liquid state. This enables them to self-repair and adapt to different tasks.
The robots resemble small hockey pucks, which, thanks to magnets, motors, and light, can connect into complex structures. They form shapes of varied durability, change shape, and enter a state resembling liquid. The key challenge for scientists was to create a material that is both rigid and capable of shape change.
Nature inspired scientists
The inspiration for the scientists was the processes occurring in embryos, where tissues are capable of self-shaping and self-repairing. By using magnets and motors, the robots can change configuration in a way that resembles these natural processes.
Possible applications
The research is supported by the National Science Foundation and Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, and the robots themselves can have a wide range of applications. It is anticipated that they could be used in medicine and physics, integrating them with machine learning technologies. Currently, the system consists of 20 large units, but the plans are ambitious. Scientists aim for the miniaturisation of their invention and expansion of its units. This opens up a whole new path for us. Innovations can revolutionise our approach to robotics.
