Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS) have created hexagonal robotic modules that can be connected together like LEGO bricks to form high-speed robots capable of reconfiguring their capabilities as needed. Researchers from the Robotic Supplies Division at MPI-IS, under the guidance of Christoph Keplinger, have integrated synthetic muscle mass into hexagonal exoskeletons that can be equipped with magnets, enabling rapid mechanical and electrical couplings. The research team’s findings, titled “Hexagonal electrohydraulic modules for quickly reconfigurable high-speed robots,” is scheduled to be presented on September 18, 2024.
Six lightweight, rigid plates composed of glass fibre serve as the exoskeleton for each HEXEL module. The internal joints of the hexagonal structures are actuated by hydraulic amplification of self-healing electrostatic synthetic muscles, enabling remarkable flexibility and adaptability. Exposing the module to an excessive electrical charge triggers a rapid contraction of the embedded muscles, which in turn rotate the hexagon’s joints and transform its shape from elongated and slender to compact and broad.
Combining smooth and rigid components in this way allows for an excessive number of strokes and high speeds. According to Ellen Rumley, a visiting researcher at the University of Colorado Boulder, connecting multiple modules enables the creation of novel robotic configurations that can be readily adapted to meet shifting demands. They are both Ph.D.s: she and Zachary Yoder, a colleague with a similar academic distinction. A team of college students serving as co-first authors in the Robotic Supplies Division’s publication.
In this engaging video, the group showcases an array of innovative behaviors that can be achieved using HEXEL modules, highlighting their versatility and capabilities. Modules move through a narrow opening in a collective manner, while a solitary unit responds rapidly enough to potentially launch itself into the air. Several modules are linked together to form larger constructions that generate distinct movements dependent on their configuration. As an illustration, the team combined multiple modules to create a robot that rapidly rolled into action.
Typically, designing robots that can adapt and change their configuration offers numerous benefits. By adopting this sustainable design approach, we can eschew purchasing separate robots for distinct purposes and instead assemble multiple versatile machines using shared components, fostering innovation and reducing environmental impact. Robots manufactured from reconfigurable modules can offer unprecedented versatility by being readily rearranged as needed, a feature that could prove particularly valuable in resource-constrained environments, according to Yoder’s conclusions.
