Harvard University develops new actuators to give software robots the ability to jump

【 Instrument R & D 】 In reality, robots always show themselves as “reinforced iron bones”. Although the exposed bones make people feel mechanical, they are far from the ideal robots. In view of this, since the beginning of this century, people began to pay attention to the creation of more flexible, plastic and safe products in order to achieve the coordinated development of rigid and flexible robots. Against this background, software robots are increasingly appearing in people's eyes.

Compared with rigid robots, software robots have many advantages. Not only can it complete a variety of special tasks such as climbing steep slopes and drilling narrow spaces, but it can also move objects that are much larger than itself with the power of "four or two dials." Flexibility and flexibility enhance the great environmental adaptability and human affinity, so that it can have extremely important applications in medical, detection, industrial and other fields. Therefore, relevant scientific workers are developing software robots to make them more sensitive.

According to foreign media reports, inspired by the popper toy, it will jump up when pressed. Recently, it has inspired researchers to create an actuator that can one day allow software robots to cross rough terrain. It is understood that this actuator developed by Harvard University consists of two bowl-shaped polymer soft caps upside down.

Among them, the larger one is on top, the smaller one is inside, and there is a small air gap between the two soft caps.

When not needed, the actuator simply lies on the ground. However, when a jump is required, an integrated hose is used to pump air into the air gap between the two soft caps, and the resulting pressure builds up, causing the larger soft cap to expand upward.

But at the same time, the smaller soft cap will press down and expand, at this time, the concave surface quickly releases energy. This process is called shell buckling, and it causes the soft cap to hit the ground hard to eject the entire actuator into the air.

Once the jump is completed, the air pressure will be released and the soft cap will pop back into the actuator again. This means that robots equipped with this device can jump repeatedly.

Professor Katia Bertoldi, the senior author of the research paper, pointed out: "This actuator is a component that can be integrated into a completely soft robot system, so that the soft robot that has the ability to crawl, walk, and swim has the ability to jump. Incorporating our jumpers into these designs, these robots can safely navigate in unknown environments. "Related research reports have been published in" Science Robotics ".

(Original title: This actuator inspired by toys may make the software robot have the ability to jump)