When danger approaches, the Moroccan flic-flac spider takes the shape of a ball and rolls away to safety. Just as the trick of shape-shifting to one’s environment has proved invaluable for many creatures, Yale researchers say it could be equally useful for robots.
While roboticists have previously experimented with some very limited shape-changes in robots, the Kramer-Bottiglio team is looking toward something more extensive—for instance, a four-legged walking robot that can change to a spherical rolling robot. Kramer-Bottiglio specializes in soft robotics, which is particularly well-suited to the challenge of making shape-changing robots.
Pitting shape-changing robots against robots that were otherwise similar but maintained only one shape, the researchers found that the shape-changers had a distinct edge over their opponents in certain environments. On pretty much any kind of flat or slightly inclined terrain, they found that the robots that could deploy inner bladders to ball up and then roll to their destination did the best. But these same robots had more trouble on uphill stretches, often rolling back down. On this terrain, robots that could transition to a flat pancake-like shape and mimic an inchworm’s movements emerged victorious.
In adapting the simulations to physical robots, the researchers often simplified the designs and then explored the various ways that the robots could change shapes. One thing they found was that even relatively small changes in shape could be paired with behavior adaptations to achieve locomotion within the two environments.
The researchers are currently investigating how to leverage smart materials to increase the flexibility and dexterity of shape-changing robots, for instance by growing limbs and controlling the location of joints throughout the robot‘s limbs and spine. “We envision future robots that can just as easily swim through water, crawl up the shore, and quickly roll down hills and along our city streets,” said Shah. Shape-changing robots could be used as scientific tools for studying amphibious behavior, delivery vehicles that need to traverse multiple terrains, and inspection tools for accessing difficult-to-reach locations.
Source: Techxplore