Header Banner
wonderhowto.mark.png
Gadget Hacks Next Reality Food Hacks Null Byte The Secret Yumiverse Invisiverse Macgyverisms Mind Hacks Mad Science Lock Picking Driverless
Home
Robotics

Just Released: Blob Morphing 'Bot

Oct 16, 2009 05:20 PM
"Just Released: Blob Morphing 'Bot" cover image

iRobot released their new soft blob morphing robot this past Tuesday. The amazing shape-shifter has the ability to squeeze A sequence of nine images showing the movement of a white, round object with a red string.through tiny crevices.

From IEEE Spectrum:

"Researchers from iRobot and the University of Chicago discussed their palm-sized soft robot, known as a chemical robot, or chembot, at the IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems yesterday. It's 'the first demonstration of a completely soft, mobile robot using jamming as an enabling technology,' they write in a paper presented at the conference. 

The concept of "'jamming skin enabled locomotion' is explained quite nicely in the video. The polymer used for the bot's stretchy skin is off-the-shelf silicone two-part rubber.

By controlling the parts of the blob that 'inflate,' the researchers can make it roll."

Awesome. Skip ahead to 1:50 to see the blob in action.

You already know how to use your phone. With Gadget Hacks' newsletter, we'll show you how to master it. Each week, we explore features, hidden tools, and advanced settings that give you more control over iOS and Android than most users even know exists.

Sign up for Gadget Hacks Weekly and start unlocking your phone's full potential.

Related Articles

Comments

No Comments Exist

Be the first, drop a comment!