Yale’s gecko-inspired robot’s ability to reconfigure itself creates a soft robot that’s even more adaptable.
Tan, who works on materials for soft electronics and soft robotics, says that Yale’s robot is the first self-amputating, self-reconfigurable soft robot she’s seen.
“What if a soft robot is just minding its own business walking in the wild, but then some part of it is trapped under a rock?” he questioned.
“How does the rest of the robot continue on to finish its mission?”Three soft robot modules join to cross a gap that’s too wide for one to bridge on its own.
“We can now adapt soft robots … after the robot is underway for its tasks,” he said.
Persons:
Bilige Yang, ”, Yu Jun Tan, Tan, Yang, Yale University Yang
Organizations:
CNN, Yale University, Yale, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Materials, National University of Singapore, NUS
Locations:
Connecticut