From the Independent
A robot that can grow rapidly and turn corners has been created by scientists.Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/worm-robot-video-stanford-university-features-what-does-it-do-surgery-rescue-a7854056.htmlStanford University researchers built the soft, worm-like robot, which can also squeeze itself through small holes.
It’s designed to mimic the movements of plants, which can grow around physical obstacles, but at speeds comparable to animals.
The robot is made of polyethylene and can grow from 28cm to 72m and change direction by pumping air through its internal chambers.
“Across kingdoms and length scales, certain cells and organisms navigate their environments not through locomotion but through growth,” reads the report, which was published in Science Robotics.
“This pattern of movement is found in fungal hyphae, developing neurons, and trailing plants, and is characterized by extension from the tip of the body, length change of hundreds of percent, and active control of growth direction. This results in the abilities to move through tightly constrained environments and form useful three-dimensional structures from the body.
“We report a class of soft pneumatic robot that is capable of a basic form of this behavior, growing substantially in length from the tip while actively controlling direction using onboard sensing of environmental stimuli.”
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