An omnidirectional octopus-like robot arm that can stretch, bend and twist without a motor

A combined squad of researchers from The Ohio State University and the Georgia Institute of Technology has developed a robot limb that moves similar an octopus limb without the request for a motor. In their insubstantial published successful Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the radical describes their robot arm, which moves successful effect to changes successful a magnetic tract astir it.

Noting that the request for motors and power units makes astir robot arms large and heavy, the researchers acceptable themselves the extremity of gathering 1 that would not request either. Instead, theirs would beryllium controlled by altering its surrounding magnetic field.

To make the robot arm, the researchers looked to the octopus and the past creation of origami. To physique an limb that could mimic an octopus arm, the researchers utilized a segmented approach. The limb was built utilizing idiosyncratic segments made of hexagonal-shaped, brushed dual silicon plates with embedded magnetic particles. The plates were connected utilizing tilted integrative panels that conformed to the kresling origami pattern.

Next, the segments were connected unneurotic astatine the plates. The limb was past placed into a controllable magnetic field. Because each conception had its ain magnetic particles, each could beryllium controlled individually by the researchers by changing the parameters of the magnetic field. This gave the robot limb 360 degrees of movement. It besides allowed the robot limb to alteration its magnitude by compressing the segments successful a twisting fashion, akin to a concertina, oregon by pulling them to marque them longer. The researchers enactment that computerizing the magnetic field could pb to precise good power of the limb by a idiosyncratic utilizing a elemental game-like controller. Under specified an environment, the arm, perchance with an attached manus oregon claw, could determination successful limitless ways. They besides enactment that the plan allows for customization, including the fig of segments, sheet size and the grade of bendability.

Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2021). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2110023118

The researchers admit that their robot limb lacks spot but suggest it does not request spot due to the fact that they envision it, oregon a akin design, being utilizing successful applications that necessitate much finesse than strength. They suggest it mightiness beryllium utile successful medical applications, for example, wherever a precocious level of accuracy is required.

Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2021). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2110023118

Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2021). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2110023118

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