A soft robot has no problem moving with no motor and no gears
5 days ago
- #3D printing
- #soft robotics
- #origami engineering
- Engineers at Princeton developed a soft-rigid hybrid robot that moves without motors or external controls, using a 3D-printed liquid crystal elastomer, flexible electronics, and origami folding techniques.
- A crane-shaped soft robot was demonstrated, which flaps its wings via targeted electrical heating of the polymer, allowing precise, repeatable motion without wear or distortion.
- The system combines a customized 3D printer to vary the molecular orientation of the polymer, creating hinges that bend when heated, with flexible circuit boards embedded during printing for simplified fabrication.
- Origami-based mathematics guides the robot's motion, with embedded temperature sensors compensating for errors during shape changes, enhancing durability and control.
- The project originated from an undergraduate thesis and focuses on integration for manufacturability, including a software tool for designing custom robots.