Researchers at Colorado State University have developed a trio of robots that can morph their bodies and legs as needed to better crawl, shimmy or swim over difficult terrain. These new robotic systems are designed to mimic the way biological organisms adapt their shape depending on their life cycle or environment and were developed by a team from the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The work outlines the three robotic types and their different abilities including gripping, climbing and amphibious travel. These robots are made of materials that can become soft or rigid with changes in temperature and are able to move without the need for bulky power systems such as magnetic coils.
That makes them more versatile and better equipped to potentially help humans search tight disaster areas for survivors in the future. The paper outlines three different morphing robotic schemes. The first design is a gripper which can sense and adjust its shape to grasp on to items better. Another is a quadrupedal robot that can flatten itself to crawl through openings or grip a ledge to maneuver across gaps. The final robot is untethered and can change its leg shape and position to effortlessly switch from walking on land to swimming in water. All three of these systems can morph on demand, and the process can be reversed if needed.
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