Origami Robot Folds Itself
Scientists develop a robot that can fold itself into shape and then move.
Inspired by the art of origami, scientists at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University have designed a 15cm-long robot that folds itself up and walks away. One of those scientists is Canadian Dr. Michael Tolley, who helped construct the robot using no more than two sheets of paper, two layers of polystyrene and a flexible circuit board, powered by small lithium polymer batteries. Folds in the material, designed by laser cutters, act as hinges when the polystyrene layer is heated in a specific order, giving shape to the robot. The micro-controller then commands the robot to begin to move and walk away. In the future, this technology could result in less expensive and more flexible robotics.
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