Related Sections: Future Tech Robots Video
iRobot's 'ChemBot' morphs between solid and semi-liquid states
iRobot, well-known for the Roomba, and researchers at the University of Chicago are showing off their chemical robot, or chembot, which they are calling "the first demonstration of a completely soft, mobile robot using jamming as an enabling technology." What's this jamming they speak of? It's how the robot moves, using its "jamming skin" made up of cell compartments that can be filled or emptied, coupled with a central actuator that can inflate the 'bot's beach-ball-like body.
The research began as the "ChemBot" project, part of a multimillion-dollar R&D contract awarded to iRobot over a year ago. If fully realized, it's believed that such a robot would serve as a valuable tool in traversing tricky terrain, such as a crack in the wall.
Check out the video below to learn more about this mysterious jamming skin.
IEEE Spectrum, via Engadget, via Geekologie
By Bob at 4:28 PM ON 10/14/09
Neato. All those wires, though, make it look like it's pretty far from being remotely powered. It does raise the question of where the power source goes (because you can't just put anything you can fit inside the robot, it's got to fit inside it completely deflated to not hinder performance. Probably really best to drag it behind in some sort of "tail" and that might be the best early application - a wrist mounted device w/ a lot of very thin power/data cable (has to be very thin to all fit comfortably around a soldier/ems guy's wrist) that is thrown/rolled towards the target site from a safe distance then works its way into the wreckage or possible ambush, does its surveillance, and can be quickly retracted w/ the cord if necessary. If it was completely remote you'd have to drag the power source/processors behind it in a long thin package (preferably segmented and flexible as well) to keep it from hindering performance.
It almost looks better to me as a muscle/piston replacement inside a larger skeletal robot.
By Lobselvith at 4:39 PM ON 10/14/09
you could make the skin of the robot with a solar panel type material, that can use the power to charge a small battery in the robot, so when it runs low on power it could just go into a standby mode, and charge.
By dan at 7:27 PM ON 10/14/09
yea....i used to have a stretch arm strong when i was little too....
By Scott at 1:19 PM ON 10/15/09
Imagine a self-contained version of this being used as a probe for planetary space exploration in the future. If there were any intelligent life on said planet(s), how would they react to it?
I know if I saw something like this in my backyard, I'd be apt to shoot first and ask questions later.. ;)
By Giggity at 3:29 PM ON 10/15/09
lol
Thats all the Blob was trying to do...explore Earth.
By youtube at 4:57 AM ON 10/16/09
thanxx
By Anonymous at 11:48 PM ON 10/18/09
Actuators are really needed for complex tasks in the high power market.If the load requires accurate positioning, High power actuators has the advantage among others...
By A quark at 3:24 AM ON 10/22/09
Numerous sex toy industry possibilities.
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T1000 in the early stages .....ha Ha
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