University of California in Berkeley developed a robot in the insect. He is able to move along the maze with a dexterity of cheetah and penetrate the most hard-to-reach places, writes the TECH Xplore portal.
Developers noticed that the ability of insects to climb on the walls and walk on the ceiling due to special sticky pads on the legs. This principle of electrostatic adhesion was used to create a device with a sizes of a cockroach, which can turn with the agility of cheetah, move around rough terrain and avoid unexpected obstacles.
The novelty is made of thin puff material, which bends and compressed when the electrical voltage is supplied. The supply of voltage to any of the pads on the legs increases the electrostatic power between it and the surface, forcing this pad stronger to stick to the surface. Due to its simple design, the robot remains unharmed, even if a 120-kilogram person appears on it.
“In this work, the main innovation was added by the footboard, which allow the robot to make very rapid turns,” said Liveway Lin, a professor of engineering in California University in Berkeley. He noted that the mechanism is very fast, quite strong and spends not enough energy, which allows it to carry sensors, electronics, as well as the battery. “
Small robots, similar to the development of engineers from Berkeley, can be ideal for use in search and rescue operations or identify potential gas leaks, Lin said. In addition to the robot, which was governed by a small electric wire, scientists have created a version that can work from a battery to 19 minutes up to 31 meters.
previously became known that in Stavropol, scientists have created a robot-nurse to help doctors fighting with COVID-19. Robotic medical assistant call “Roma”. It has a webcam, sensors and software management, due to which its movements can be controlled remotely.