You may think the image above shows just a few pieces of string, but these little things are actually so much more. Essentially, these are robots that were developed without a “brain” or computer intelligence, but can wriggle their way through some very complex areas.
The team from North Carolina State University behind this breakthrough first introduced their rotini pasta-like soft robots in 2022 and showed how they could navigate mazes without computer or human commands. Instead, the technology is based on the concept of physical intelligence.
What is physical intelligence?
Physical intelligence refers to the idea that the materials from which robots are made, together with their structural design, determine their behavior. There is no computer or human operator guiding the robot, the robots just do their own job. The team has built on their previous success with a new and improved version that can navigate more complex scenarios.
Jie Yin, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, said in his statement, “In our previous studies, we showed that our soft robot could turn and move forward on a very simple obstacle course,” and continued: “However, it could not turn unless it encountered an obstacle. In practical terms, this meant that the robot could sometimes get stuck and bounce back and forth between parallel obstacles. We have developed a new soft robot that can turn around on its own, allowing it to navigate winding mazes and even navigate around moving obstacles. And all of this is done using physical intelligence rather than being guided by a computer.”
The team used the same material as before, namely liquid crystal elastomer. When exposed to a surface temperature of at least 55°C, the part of the material in contact with the surface contracts, causing the pasta-like robot to roll. The hotter the surface, the faster the robot moves.
However, although the materials did not change, there was a significant difference in the design this time. The new robot had an asymmetrical design, meaning one half consisted of a twisted strip that could extend in a straight line, while the other consisted of a tighter twist that rotated around itself.
This asymmetry creates a difference in the forces exerted by each end of the robot, so the robot no longer rolls in a straight line. You can see this in action in the video above and how this unique feature helps the robot get out of some sticky spots.
“The concept behind our new robot is quite simple: due to its asymmetrical design, it rotates without coming into contact with an object,” says lead author Yao Zhao. “So although it continues to change direction when it ‘contacts’ an object (allowing it to navigate mazes), it can get stuck between parallel objects.” It doesn’t stay. “Instead, its ability to move in arcs actually allows it to move freely.”
Even mazes with movable walls and spaces smaller than body size pose no obstacle for the robot, which the authors call a “maze escapee.”
Beyond being a great example of what can be achieved with soft robotics and physical intelligence, Yin also talked about the potential applications of this technology: “This work is another step that will help us develop innovative approaches to soft robot design, especially for applications where soft robots can harvest heat energy from their environment.” .”
The study was published in the journal Science Advances.
47160
