Revolutionary Origami Robot by EPFL: Changing the Future of Modular Robotics

2023-06-13 04:00:00

In an unprecedented feat in the field of modular robotics, a team of researchers from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) has developed an extraordinary origami robot for the first time. This robot, with innovative capabilities, is able not only to change shape, but also to move and interact with objects and people.

In an amazing marriage between the digital world and the biological world, the Mori3 robot presents unprecedented capabilities. Inspired by polygonal mesh techniques commonly used in digital modeling, and the collective behavior specific to certain animal species, this robot is capable of transforming itself at will.

Going from simple 2D triangles to almost any 3D object, the Mori3 is poised to redefine our traditional understandings of robotics.

EPFL research, published in Nature Machine Intelligenceshow the potential of modular robotics for space travel.

“Our goal with Mori3 is to create a modular, origami-like robot that can be assembled and disassembled at will depending on the environment and the task at hand,” says Jamie Paik, laboratory director of the Reconfigurable Robotics Lab. “Mori3 can change in size, shape and function.“

Mori3 in videos

This video shows ten modules connected and starting flat on the ground. The robot gets up and starts walking. All modules are identical and functionally independent. Individually they can only roll slowly on flat ground, but together they can create larger robots with different functionality.

This video shows ten modules linked in a loop, rolling on the ground. Each module can modify the length of each triangular edge. When all the edges of a module are identical, the loop rolls in a straight line, like a cylinder. By extending all the edges on one side of the loop, the system takes the shape of a cone, allowing the robot to navigate around corners, without having to disconnect and reconnect modules.

The Mori3 is a shape-shifting robot to adapt to new environments and unseen tasks. The Mori3 is made up of self-contained parts that can connect together to form large, complex, mobile systems.

Un robot polygonal

The individual modules of the Mori3 robot are triangular in shape. They easily join together to create polygons of different sizes and configurations, in a process known as polygon meshing.

“We demonstrated that polygonal meshing is a viable robotic strategy,” says Christoph Belke, postdoctoral researcher in robotics. To achieve this, the team had to push the boundaries of various aspects of robotics, including mechanical and electronic design, computer systems and engineering.

“We had to rethink our understanding of robotics,” explained Belke. “These robots can change their own shape, attach to each other, communicate and reconfigure themselves to form functional, articulated structures.”

This proof of concept is a success because Mori3 robots are competent in the three areas that a robot should master: mobility, manipulation and transport of objectsas well as the interaction with users.

This video shows six connected modules, able to pop out of plane to resemble the surface of the rear screen. This movement uses the ability of the Mori3 to change the length of a module’s edges, creating surfaces that would not otherwise be possible..

Destined for space

What is the advantage of creating modular and multifunctional robots?

Paik points out that to perform a wide variety of tasks, robots must be able to change shape or configuration.

“Polygonal and polymorphic robots that connect with each other to create articulated structures can be effectively used for various applications,” he said. “Of course, a general-purpose robot like Mori3 will perform less well than specialized robots in certain areas. That said, the main strength of Mori3 lies in its versatility.”

The Mori3 is a modular robot built by the Reconfigurable Robotics Lab at EPFL.

Mori3 robots were designed in part for use in spaceships, which don’t have the room to store different robots for each individual task to be performed.

The researchers hope Mori3 robots will be used for communication and external repairs.

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