Researchers from at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering have achieved a significant breakthrough in robotics with the development of a fully 3D-printed, electronics-free walking robots. Made from a single, readily available material, this innovative design uses compressed gas to power its locomotion and is completely different from traditional robotic construction.
The researchers use the simplest technology available, including a desktop 3D-printed and an off-the-shelf printing material. This method demonstrates a cost-effective and robust approach to robotics, with each unit costing approximately $20 to manufacture.
With the goal of designing robots that could walk right off the printer, with the addition of an air power source from flexible, soft materials, they made these robots from simple 3D-printing filament. They adapted a 3D printing technique, used previously to build an electronics-free gripper, to create a design that would include artificial muscles and a control system, all printed out of the same soft material and in a single print.
To drive the robots to move, they created a pneumatic oscillating circuit to control the repeated motions of soft actuators. The system moves the six legs by delivering air pressure at the right time alternating between two sets of three legs. Additionally, the robot’s legs can move in four degrees of freedom — up and down, forward and back, allowing the robot to walk in a straight line.
Because of the absence of electronics, these robots could be used in settings where electronics cannot function, such as areas with high radiation levels, disaster zones, and even space exploration.
In tests, the researchers proved that the non-electronic robots could keep functioning non-stop for three days as long as they were connected to a source of air or gas under constant pressure. In addition, the robots also could walk outdoors, untethered, using a compressed gas cartridge as a power source, and traverse different surfaces, including turf and sand, and even underwater.
Looking ahead, the research team aims to further refine the design by incorporating onboard gas storage, using biodegradable materials, and integrating manipulators for enhanced functionality. This also marks a pivotal step towards accessible and adaptable robotic solutions, demonstrating the transformative potential of 3D printing in the field of robotics and opening new avenues for exploration and innovation.
Image & article source by University of California San Diego
