Researchers develop a liquid robot for biomedicine/exploration
Researchers have successfully developed a next-generation soft robot using liquid. This liquid robot is anticipated to have applications in extreme environment exploration and biomedical soft robotics.
Research has long focused on replicating the unique abilities of biological cells to deform, divide, fuse, and capture foreign substances in artificial systems. However, traditional solid-based robots have struggled to effectively mimic the flexibility and functionality of living cells. Overcoming these challenges, the joint research team from the Seoul National University College of Engineering and Gachon University successfully developed and demonstrated a particle-armored liquid robot encased in unusually dense hydrophobic (water-repelling) particles. This novel, next-generation soft robot benefits from both the exceptional deformability of liquid and the structural stability of solid materials. As a result, it can withstand extreme compression or high-impact drops, recovering its original shape like a droplet without breaking.
Much like the liquid robot T-1000 from the 1991 movie Terminator 2, this innovative soft robot can pass through metal bars, capture and transport foreign substances, and merge with other similar robots. Furthermore, it can move freely across both water surfaces and solid ground. The research team experimentally demonstrated that the liquid robot could continuously perform these tasks and developed a technique to control its movement at desired speeds using ultrasound.
The liquid robot is expected to be utilised in biomedical and soft robotics applications, such as targeted drug delivery and therapeutic interventions within the human body. Furthermore, due to its ability to pass through extremely narrow spaces, it could be deployed in large numbers inside complex machinery, between obstacles in rugged terrain, and in disaster zones to conduct exploration, cleaning, chemical-based obstacle removal, and nutrient supply operations.
Hyobin Jeon, the paper’s first author, stated, “When we first started developing the liquid robot, we initially considered encapsulating a spherical droplet with particles, just as adopted in making conventional liquid marbles. However, by shifting our perspective, we came up with the idea of coating an ice cube with particles and then melting it, which significantly enhanced the stability of our robots.”
Professor Ho-Young Kim, the corresponding author, remarked, “Building on our current findings, we are now working on technologies that will allow the liquid robot to change shape using sound waves or electric fields freely.”
Co-corresponding author Professor Jeong-Yun Sun added, “We plan to enhance the material functionality of the liquid robot to facilitate broader industrial applications in the future.”
Paper: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adt5888
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