Robot Rubber Snake: A Biological Inspiration

Many science fiction shows often depict robots as metallic, resembling human anatomy, or with multiple of joints, consisting of many pneumatic or hydraulic actuators. The problem with these robots, and some robots today, is simple: they are inflexible. This often results to restrictions in what the robot can do and safety hazards as, due to motion restrictions, they could accidentally injure people nearby. Currently, though, robots today are going through evolution, but not an evolution as the common citizen might assume; robots are now being built in the form of nature's biological masterpieces, from robots that swim like fishes to robots that run like cheetahs. Now, MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence lab has developed a 3D printed robotic tentacle, resembling the kinetic movement patterns of a snake, capable of moving through pipes, channels, and burrows. The robot consists of a rubber silicon body with various inflatable channels where the robot will increase the air pressure in certain areas to "slither" around obstacles. This design also allows the robot to create arc shapes and fit in tight spaces; however, the robot is far from being complete; they need to experiment ways on how to implement mechanical parts and electronic sensors for the actual robot to be of use in real life applications. Hopefully, the researchers at MIT will finalize their prototype and make it available for use in a variety of industries, and, sometime in the future, today's society will see robots in forms beyond human anatomy. To see more about the tentacle, go to the following link: http://www.gizmag.com/mit-slithering-silicone-rubber-robot/33838/