A feather-star-inspired robot swims three ways with just two actuators
A team at North Carolina State University built a soft robot that swims three ways using two actuators instead of six.
Researchers built a robot that swims like a sea animal called a feather star. It moves in three different ways using only two motors. This is lab research, not a product.
2actuators instead of the usual six
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Why it matters
Smart body design could make underwater robots simpler and lighter than adding many motors.
For most people
Watch: nature keeps inspiring robots.
The details
- The robot is inspired by the feather star, a marine animal with flexible limbs.
- It moves in three dimensions with flexible limbs and two actuators; researcher Jie Yin says six are normally needed.
- Jellyfish mode: it rises, descends and can hover in place.
- Fish mode: one actuator moves it forward or backward.
- Rotor mode: alternating the two actuators turns it on its axis.
- Researchers hope it can carry cameras, lift objects and work with other aquatic robots; the source gives no product timeline.
WatchEarly research, still far from a product you can buy.
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