An innovative origami-inspired robotic arm, crafted from biodegradable materials like cotton plant fibers and gelatin from pigs, represents a significant advancement in soft robotics. This soft robot holds promise for medical applications, enabling it to perform procedures within the human body while safely degrading after use.
The field of soft robotics is rapidly expanding, particularly in environments where traditional rigid devices may pose safety risks. These applications include maneuvering in tight spaces, whether in machinery or in delicate medical settings.
Researchers at Westlake University in Zhejiang, China, have developed a simple but effective robotic arm using cellulose and gelatin that decomposes harmlessly. This arm can be controlled via computer, even serving as a controller for other devices.
By employing a Kresling origami design, the team formed a flexible tube that can be compressed and bent. They combined four modules to create a 240-millimeter robotic arm, allowing for multidirectional movement by adjusting three threads inside the arm with external motors.
The gelatin material also functions as a sensor, with its electrical resistance changing during bending. This feature enables precise monitoring of the arm’s position. Furthermore, a smaller assembly of these modules can act as a joystick, transmitting resistance values to a computer to manage another soft robotic arm’s movements.
Looking ahead, the need for environmentally friendly robots is clear, according to researchers. “In the future, we may have more robots on Earth than people, leading to significant waste,” one researcher noted. The current design’s materials degrade safely, though modifications will be necessary for complete biodegradability within human bodies.
Experts believe soft robotics can revolutionize various industries by safely navigating constrained spaces and interacting with humans, particularly in medical procedures such as surgery. The potential for these technologies is vast, and advancements in this innovative field are still unfolding.
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