Chinese researchers have published their work on the development of a small robot capable of switching from a solid state to a liquid state to overcome various obstacles in its path. In the future, this type of machine, miniaturized, could be very useful in the medical field.
The concept of soft robotics has been stirring the imagination for several years now. To date, it has brought together numerous works related to flexible, elastic or deformable materials and structures, adapted to robotics. In absolute terms, such research could one day lead to robots capable of repairing themselves, or even of duplicating themselves.
As part of this new experience, a milestone has been definitively crossed, with a small robot (in the form of Lego) capable of liquefying itself, before then being able to resume its initial shape. To demonstrate its effectiveness, researchers filmed it passing in this way between bars, knowing that the goal is precisely to liquefy to pass any obstacle. At the sight of this video, moviegoers will immediately think of “Terminator 2” and its formidable T-1000 robot, itself capable of the same feats. But unlike the T-1000, this robot doesn’t reform itself. In this case, it still requires human intervention and replacing the liquid in a mold.
This performance is made possible thanks to an alloy using in particular gallium, whose properties allow it to go from solid to liquid from 30 degrees. It is a magnetic induction field which heats the whole here and which allows it to melt easily. The particles, liquids, nevertheless continue to move, in spite of the change of state of the robot, until, for this precise example, leaving its cage. It will always be possible afterwards to make them return to their initial shape, by cooling them and placing them back in a mould.
Even if this research is still at an embryonic stage, researchers are already talking about the first practical uses. This type of robot, miniaturized, could thus act inside the body, such as to help expel a foreign body from the digestive tract or administer drugs in a specific organ. Once its mission was complete, it would liquefy. In another genre, they also evoke the possibility of one day creating universal screws and screwdrivers.
This experience can be found on the Matter website.