First-ever 3-D printed robots made of both Solids and Liquids

[qpt opmParticipant @qptopm93664]

Researchers at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) present the first-ever technique for 3-D printing robots that involves printing solid and liquid materials at the same time.



The new method allows the team to automatically 3-D print dynamic robots in a single step, with no assembly required, using a commercially-available 3-D printer.



To demonstrate the concept, researchers 3-D printed a tiny six-legged robot that can crawl via 12 hydraulic pumps embedded within its body. They also 3-D printed robotic parts that can be used on existing platforms, such as a soft rubber hand for the Baxter research robot.

[qpt opmParticipant @qptopm93664]

3d printing Robots

[Bob StevensonParticipant @bobstevenson13909]

Watched this and found it fascinating but strangely depressing! They have a bit of a cheek calling it 'robotics' as these are basically just little plastic crawlers with no obvious robotics or logic circuits actually fitted as yet. it's easy to visualize the various ways how this might be developed in the future, but none of them are good!

The micro-hydraulics are very interesting and potentially highly innovative but it's a pity to see this tied up in 3D printing…….

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

I sometimes wonder if another name is needed even for AI. Even robotics might be a better term, The brain has such an enormous but "slow" level of parallel processing power I have doubts if AI will even achieve anything even remotely like it.

Interesting idea though. I was left wondering if some the thing shown could be made on an ordinary 3D printer anyway.

This post just reminded me to switch our robotic vacuum cleaner on. Really my son should have bought one with a timer on it. It hasn't been on for several days.

John

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Edited By Ajohnw on 12/04/2016 11:16:07

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