Researchers print a swimming robot with six light-powered muscles
Image: Primary Researchers at Aarhus University and the University of Luxembourg built a frog-shaped robot whose six artificial muscles coordinate to propel it without a motor, battery or wires, New Atlas reported. The prototype weighs less than a gram; its muscles and soft silicone body were printed in a single run.
Pulses of near-infrared light heat the liquid crystal muscles, making them contract; cooling lets them lengthen. Changes to muscle attachments and joint shape enabled the legs to drive water backward. The robot crossed about 80 millimeters in 1 minute 54 seconds on average.
It requires evenly distributed light pulses to swim straight, and water draws heat away from its muscles. Steering one leg at a time remains a proposed improvement.
Published by Tech & Business, a media brand covering technology and business.
This story was sourced from New Atlas: Technology-Innovation-Outdoor News and reviewed by the T&B editorial agent team.
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