Exciting Airborne Launch: Revolutionary Rubber Film Takes Flight – Inspired by Grasshoppers
Introduction:
Engineers at the University of Colorado Boulder have made a groundbreaking discovery. They have developed a material that has the ability to deform and shoot into the air when heated. This material could have numerous applications, including helping soft robots to jump or lift objects. The material, which is a solidified and elastic version of liquid crystals used in displays, was observed to jump off a testing stage and onto a countertop when exposed to heat. Further investigation revealed that the leaping behavior was due to the material forming a cone shape and inverting, causing it to snap up into the air. The researchers believe that this technology could be used to enhance the functionality of soft robots by emulating the natural properties of grasshoppers’ legs. The material can also be made to jump by cooling it, and by adding legs, it can gain directional control. Although it may not become a primary locomotion source, this discovery adds to the understanding of how to improve the performance of innovative machines. The research has been published in the journal Science Advances, and a video demonstrating the material in action is available.
Full Article: Exciting Airborne Launch: Revolutionary Rubber Film Takes Flight – Inspired by Grasshoppers
New Material Developed at CU Boulder Could Help Soft Robots Jump and Lift Objects
Engineers at the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) have made a serendipitous discovery of a material that can deform and then shoot into the air when heated. This new material has the potential to be used in soft robots to enhance their jumping and lifting capabilities.
Investigating the Behavior of Liquid Crystal Elastomers
Researchers at CU Boulder, led by Tayler Hebner, were studying the behavior of liquid crystal elastomers when exposed to heat. Liquid crystal elastomers are solidified and elastic versions of the liquid crystals found in displays like laptop screens and TVs. These materials may even be used in windshields in the future to protect pilots from temporary blindness caused by laser pointers.
Unexpected Jumping Behavior
During their study, Hebner and her team observed that the liquid crystal elastomer did not take the expected shape when exposed to heat. Instead, it unexpectedly jumped off the testing stage onto the countertop. This discovery sparked excitement and confusion among the researchers.
Cause of Jumping Behavior Revealed
Further investigation with colleagues from the California Institute of Technology revealed that the jumping behavior was caused by the unique structure of the material. The film, about the size of a contact lens, consisted of three layers. When heated, the top two layers shrink faster than the bottom layer, causing the film to form a cone shape. Eventually, due to tension build-up, the cone inverts, striking the surface and propelling the film into the air. Testing showed that in just six milliseconds, the film could soar to almost 200 times its thickness.
Similar to Grasshoppers’ Leaping Ability
According to study co-author Timothy White, the material’s action resembles the way in which grasshoppers achieve their impressive leaping ability. This discovery opens up possibilities for incorporating this jumping behavior into the development of soft robots, especially those that rely on light and magnetic fields instead of hard materials.
Emulating Natural Properties
White explains that many natural adaptations, such as a grasshopper’s leg, utilize stored energy in the form of elastic instability. The researchers aim to create synthetic materials that imitate these natural properties, allowing soft robots to perform complex movements.
Cooling-induced Jumping and Directional Control
In addition to the heat-induced jumping, the researchers found that cooling the material can also initiate the jumping behavior. By adding legs to the film, the material gains directional control. While it may not become the primary locomotion source in soft robots, this discovery contributes to the knowledge of designing innovative machines that store and release energy under specific conditions.
Transforming Fundamental Concepts into Amazing Designs
Tayler Hebner expresses how the discovery of this jumping material exemplifies how fundamental concepts studied in the lab can be transformed into designs that perform in complex and amazing ways. The material’s potential has been published in the journal Science Advances.
Watch the Material in Action
To see the material in action, you can watch the video below:
This news article originally appeared on the CU Boulder website.
Summary: Exciting Airborne Launch: Revolutionary Rubber Film Takes Flight – Inspired by Grasshoppers
Engineers at the University of Colorado Boulder have developed a material that deforms and shoots into the air when heated. This material, a type of liquid crystal elastomer, could be used in the future to help soft robots jump or lift objects. The researchers discovered the leaping behavior of the material during a study and found that it was due to the shrinkage of the top layers, causing it to form a cone shape. This discovery adds to the knowledge of how to improve the function of soft robots by utilizing materials that can store and release energy.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q1: What is robotics?
A1: Robotics refers to the field of technology that encompasses the design, creation, and use of robots. Robots are programmable machines capable of carrying out various tasks autonomously or as instructed by humans. They often feature sensors, actuators, and intelligent systems that enable them to interact with their environment and perform specific functions.
Q2: How are robots built?
A2: Robots are built through a combination of mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering. Engineers design the robot’s physical structure, known as the mechanical body, which includes the framework, joints, and various components. Electrical systems such as motors, wires, and batteries are then integrated into the design. Finally, programming languages and algorithms are utilized to enable the robot to execute specific functions and respond to external stimuli.
Q3: Where are robots used?
A3: Robots find applications in various sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, exploration, agriculture, military, and even in households. In manufacturing industries, robots are often used for tasks that are repetitive, dangerous, or require high precision. In healthcare, robots assist surgeons in complex procedures, and in exploration, they are used in space missions or deep-sea explorations. Additionally, robots can be seen in agriculture for activities like harvesting or spraying pesticides.
Q4: How do robots perceive their environment?
A4: Robots perceive their environment through a combination of sensors that provide them with data about their surroundings. These sensors can include cameras for visual perception, microphones for audio input, force or touch sensors for physical feedback, and various other specialized sensors depending on the intended application. The collected data is processed by the robot’s onboard computer, enabling it to make decisions and navigate its environment accordingly.
Q5: What is the future of robotics?
A5: The future of robotics holds immense potential for advancements in various fields. With ongoing research and development, robots are expected to become more intelligent, versatile, and capable of performing complex tasks. There will likely be a greater integration of robots into our daily lives, supporting humans in various aspects of work and productivity. Additionally, the field of robotics aims to address challenges such as improving human-robot interaction, ensuring robot safety, and exploring possibilities in artificial intelligence and machine learning.
