Scientists who developed an autonomous robot capable of navigating simple mazes without human or computer guidance have built upon this breakthrough, creating a “brainless” robot that can successfully navigate more complex and dynamic environments.
“According to Jie Yin, co-author of a recent research paper and affiliate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at North Carolina State University, their earlier study showed that their tender robotic arm was able to adapt its strategy by navigating a straightforward obstacle course.” Despite this, it remained invisible until it met a hindrance. As a result, the robot’s trajectory was frequently interrupted by its tendency to ricochet back and forth between adjacent barriers.
“We have designed a revolutionary, autonomous tender robot capable of navigating complex environments, effortlessly traversing winding paths and circumventing moving barriers.” Utilizing bodily intelligence, rather than relying on computer guidance, this process is performed.
Bodily intelligence encompasses dynamic entities, akin to tender robots, whose behavior is governed by their inherent structure and constituent materials, rather than being controlled by a computer or human guidance.
With this novel technology, the brand-new tender robots are crafted from ribbon-like liquid crystal elastomers. As temperatures rise above 55 degrees Celsius (131 degrees Fahrenheit) on a floor that’s significantly warmer than the surrounding air, the section of the ribbon in direct contact with the floor contracts, while the exposed segment remains unaffected. As the temperature of the floor increases, the robot’s pace accelerates with a smooth, continuous roll.
While the initial prototype exhibited a harmonious symmetry, the latest iteration boasts a striking dichotomy, featuring two distinct and separate entities. The robotic’s design features one half comprising a linear, distorted ribbon shape, while its counterpart takes the form of a densely coiled, self-twisting spiral resembling a spiral staircase.
The unconventional layout suggests that one side of the robotic system applies greater downward force compared to its counterpart. Can a plastic cup with a mouth wider than its base still be considered a cup? As the ball rolls across the desk, its trajectory deviates from a straight line, instead tracing an arc as it traverses the surface. This uniqueness stems from its unconventional structure.
According to Yao Zhao, lead author and postdoctoral researcher at North Carolina State University, the novel robotic design boasts an asymmetrical configuration that enables it to pivot seamlessly without requiring recontact with an object. “While capable of adjusting its navigation instructions upon encountering an object, allowing for successful maze traversal, the robot’s design also ensures that it cannot become trapped between parallel surfaces.” As a substitute, its ability to maneuver in arcs enables it to nimbly adjust its approach and effortlessly navigate through tight spaces.
Researchers showcased the capabilities of their innovative asymmetric tendril-robot design, successfully navigating complex mazes featuring shifting obstacles and traversing narrow spaces smaller than its own physical dimensions. The investigators scrutinized the novel robotic prototype both on a steel surface and amidst sand.
“This breakthrough represents a significant leap forward in developing innovative robotic designs, particularly for applications where robots can harness ambient heat energy,” Yin notes.
The manuscript “Untitled” appears to be submitted to the journal. The first author of the paper is Yao Zhao, a postdoctoral researcher at North Carolina State University. Dr. Hao Su, a distinguished affiliate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at North Carolina State University, serves as a co-corresponding author. Yaoye Hong, a current PhD student, further co-authored the research. A graduate of NC State, Yanbin Li, a postdoctoral researcher at the university, and Drs. Fangjie Qi and Haitao Qing, both having earned their PhDs. college students at NC State.
The research was conducted with assistance from the National Science Foundation under grants 2005374, 2126072, 1944655, and 2026622.
NC Sate College
