University of Minnesota researchers have developed a first-of-its-kind soft robot that can grow like a plant. The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The plant-inspired extrusion process that allows the synthetic material to grow will allow researchers to build better soft robots that can navigate hard-to-reach places, complicated terrain, and potentially areas of the human body.
Soft robotics is an emerging field where robots are made from soft, pliable materials as opposed to hard ones. Current soft-growing robots drag a trail of solid material behind them and use heat and/or pressure to transform that material into a more permanent structure. Previously, it was more difficult to pull this path around twists and turns, making it difficult for robots to navigate through terrain with obstacles or winding paths.
The research team solved this problem by developing a new method of extrusion, a process where material is pushed through a hole to create a specific shape. This allows the robot to create its synthetic material from a liquid instead of a solid. The scientists were able to mimic the plants using a technique called photopolymerization, which uses light to turn liquid monomers into a solid material. Using this technology, the soft robot can more easily navigate obstacles and winding paths without having to drag any solid material behind it.
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