In this episode, we discuss research coming out of Columbia University to better connect humans with robots by having them detect, process, and respond to facial expressions!

Podcast: Finally! A Humanoid Robot You Can Trust

<h1 id="isPasted">Wired for Autonomy: Confronting PCBA Complexities in Mobile Robotics</h1><section>The field of untethered robotics is booming, and across industries, autonomous robots are rapidly assuming responsibility for an increasing number of tasks. In their expansion into increasingly diverse industries, these robots place additional demands on their internal workings, specifically the PCBAs that help them function.However, developing PCBAs for autonomous robot systems presents several unique challenges that electrical engineers must overcome to succeed. We take a deep dive into these challenges by exploring design considerations beyond those associated with conventional PCBAs.<h3>Beyond the Basics: Design Considerations for Autonomous Robots</h3>While core electrical principles remain a top priority, autonomous robotics introduces additional complexity to PCBA design that electrical engineers must consider from day one. To function properly, these machines must anticipate and plan for the unexpected in harsh, changing conditions.Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus moon lander recently brought this to light, when the private spacecraft <a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/space/moon-lander-described-alive-well-day-after-white-knuckle-lunar-touchdown-2024-02-23/" target="_blank">landed on the moon’s surface</a>. As much as the sideways landing attracted media attention, few reports focused on last-minute troubleshooting that kept the mission afloat, a testament to the quick-thinking nature of the engineers involved.Here are some of the important factors to consider when designing PCBAs for untethered robotics:<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1713979758192-1713979758192.png" alt="Autonomous robot design considerations" class="fr-fic fr-dii"><ul><li>PCBAs Must Prioritize Efficiency: Untethered robots almost entirely rely on batteries, so PCBAs must focus on efficiency. The key to this is meticulous component selection, such as using low-power microcontrollers and efficient voltage regulators, as well as excellent circuit design that minimizes standby currents. Using clock gating also maximizes battery life and reduces heat generation.</li><li>Maintain Signal Integrity Amid Noise: Robots operate in dynamic environments with <a href="https://www.macrofab.com/blog/bypass-caps-decouple-your-way-to-cleaner-power/" target="_blank">potential electrical noise</a> from motors, sensors, and external sources. EMI can wreak havoc on robotic sensors, causing glitches, calibration issues, or even complete sensor failure. Consider layout strategies in detail to cut crosstalk and ground loops and maintain clear signal transmission.</li><li>Build for Endurance: Many robots are subjected to extreme temperatures, temperature fluctuations, vibrations, and shocks. Use ruggedized PCBA boards that have components with adequate vibration and temperature ratings. To prevent overheating, soldering must be properly performed to handle thermal expansion and contraction, mechanical fatigue, and dust and moisture infiltration. Enclosures need to protect against dust and moisture egress.</li><li>Size Matters: Robots must be mobile, so PCBAs must also be compact and lightweight to minimize robot weight. Choose wisely when choosing mechanisms within your robot, like vacuum track-based models or electromagnetic ones. They may increase the mass of your robot and reduce maneuverability. High-density interconnect (HDI) techniques and minimizing wasted space become crucial.</li><li>Don’t Compromise Reliability: Autonomous robots, operating alone, demand ultra-reliable PCBAs to minimize failure. Filtering tackles this by reducing sensor noise for cleaner data, smoothing data for fewer errors, extracting key features for better navigation, and even lowering processing load for faster decision-making. Redundancy and fail-safe features further enhance reliability.</li><li>Play by the Rules: Robots must comply with <a href="https://www.macrofab.com/blog/safeguarding-pcba-design-from-electromagnetic-interference/" target="_blank">Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) regulations</a> to ensure proper operation and avoid interfering with other electronic devices. Shielding techniques and filtering components become necessary.</li><li>Ensure Maintainability: After assembling, it’s crucial to diagnose faults and perform maintenance. Make sure test points are conveniently accessible after the final assembly. Consider implementing Built-in Test (BIT) features on the PCBA for self-diagnostic features or options for wireless troubleshooting.</li></ul><h2> </h2><h3>The Unexpected Factors: When Biology Interferes</h3>Biological influences are often overlooked when designing PCBAs for autonomous robotics but are an important factor. Autonomous robotics may work in many different environments, encountering biological challenges that can undermine even the most robust and reliable designs.<h3>Biofouling</h3>Biofouling, or the accumulation of microorganisms on surfaces, happens most frequently in aquatic environments. However, this issue can also occur within humid industrial settings or food processing facilities. Biofouling causes issues in many ways including:<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1713979758511-1713979758511.png" alt="Biofouling" class="fr-fic fr-dii"><ul><li>Reduced Performance: Fouling on sensors, thrusters, and hulls can decrease efficiency and accuracy. As a result, sensors become less sensitive, propellers drag more, and overall power consumption increases. Special coatings applied to surfaces can deter organism attachment.</li><li>Problems with Navigation: Fouling on navigational equipment leads to positioning and localization errors, which make it difficult for the robot to map its surroundings, keep its trajectory, and reach its destination.</li><li>Maintenance Issues: Regular cleaning to remove biofouling is essential, particularly in remote locations. As a result, downtime occurs and reduces operational efficiency. Prevent biofouling with brushes or wipers, as well as scheduled cleaning protocols.</li><li>Damage and Disruption: Biofouling can cause physical damage by promoting barnacle growth and corroding structures. Choosing materials that discourage organism growth is a passive defense, and monitoring systems can detect biofouling early and trigger automatic cleaning.</li></ul>Especially within industrial and food processing industries, biofouling can create a surprising but challenging issue for logistics robotics in order fulfillment, for example, or other autonomous vehicles. Make sure to consider this possibility when designing for specific applications.<h3> </h3><h3>Biological Challenges Across Environments</h3>While biofouling dominates aquatic environments, other biological factors impact robots in other settings:<ul><li>On Land: Dust, dirt, and debris can accumulate on sensors and cameras in terrestrial robots, hindering performance. Agricultural robots may encounter challenges with mud and plant debris.</li><li>Airborne: Airborne robots face issues with dust, pollen, insects, and other airborne particles that can increase drag, reduce lift, and affect sensor accuracy.</li></ul>To address animal-related challenges, EEs can employ design strategies like:1. Physical Resilence:&nbsp;<ul><li>Challenge: Animals may chew on cables or antennas, causing malfunctions.</li><li>Solution: Employ ruggedized components, reinforced substrates, and protective enclosures to enhance PCBA durability against physical damage from animal interactions. Additionally, utilize encapsulation and conformal coatings to safeguard critical components from moisture, dust, and possible damage by animals.</li></ul>2. Sensor Integrity:<ul><li>Challenge: Animals brushing against sensors can distort sensor inputs, leading to navigation errors.</li><li>Solution: Design sensors with robust shielding, noise filtering capabilities, and redundancy features to ensure reliable operation and accurate data despite potential interference from animals. Develop strategies for preventing animals from brushing against sensors to keep distortions and navigational errors from happening. For example, anti-fouling paints or cages around the robot could prevent fouling, or sensors might be placed where animals cannot access them.</li></ul>3. Mobility Optimization:<ul><li>Challenge: Animals blocking pathways or obstructing movement can impede the robot’s forward progress.</li><li>Solution: Develop strategies to address mobility constraints caused by animals blocking pathways or obstructing movement, ensuring that robots can navigate effectively and complete their objectives. This could include low-power LEDs or subtle sounds that encourage animals to move away. Optimize power management systems to maximize operational autonomy and extend battery life in resource-constrained environments where robots may interact with animals.</li></ul><h3>Security: The Next Level in AMR PCBA Design</h3><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1713979758575-1713979758575.png" alt="AMR PCBA security" class="fr-fic fr-dii">AMR PCBA securityPCB design traditionally focuses on protecting against electrical malfunctions and physical damage. However, for AMRs (autonomous mobile robots) connected to the internet, cybersecurity emerges as a key concern. Hacking hazards present significant security risks. A compromised robot can open the door to major security breaches. Thus, incorporating encryption and secure boot mechanisms in PCBA design is essential to block unauthorized access.Hardware Trojan Horses also pose a silent yet profound threat. These sneaky modifications, made during manufacturing, can go almost unnoticed. To counteract this, it’s critical to partner with trustworthy suppliers and employ hardware authentication methods.Consider working with a partner with a connected technology platform that keeps you in touch with your manufacturing process from start to finish. Moreover, work with a partner that employs robust security practices and can provide proof of such, such as ISO and ITAR certifications, or membership in the ERAI, an organization established to <a href="https://www.macrofab.com/blog/electronics-industry-counterfeit-parts-problem/" target="_blank">combat counterfeit electronics</a> and high-risk components in the electronics industry. MacroFab holds these standards, and it is a member of ERAI.Another challenge is the theft of PCBAs after robot deployment, especially those containing valuable intellectual property. Consider using tamper-evident seals or protective enclosures if you will be installing robotics in an unsupervised area.Want to read more about designing PCBAs for robotics? Read <a href="https://www.macrofab.com/documents/reshaping-robotics-how-pcba-advances-drive-tomorrows-autonomous-solutions/" target="_blank">Reshaping Robotics: How PCBA Advances Drive Tomorrow's Autonomous Soutions</a> now.<h2> </h2><h3>Conclusion: Embracing the Challenge</h3>The realm of PCBA design for autonomous robots transcends the traditional electrical engineer’s domain. While electrical fundamentals remain the cornerstone, navigating the complexities of this field necessitates venturing beyond the confines of the schematic. It’s a world where understanding environmental stresses, mitigating biological influences, and safeguarding against security vulnerabilities are equally critical.By embracing these unique challenges and fostering a spirit of relentless innovation, electrical engineers will become the architects of a new era in robotics. The future holds immense potential for these autonomous machines, with robust, adaptable PCBAs serving as their foundation.Need PCBAs for your robotics project?&nbsp;</section><a href="https://factory.macrofab.com/quick_quote?mbsy_source=c2dfbfd3-8c8b-4098-87b7-c7e0e06119ec&campaignid=62990&mbsy=6DBV3m" target="_blank">GET AN INSTANT QUOTE NOW</a><section><h5> </h5></section>

Autonomous robotics must anticipate and plan for the unexpected, often in harsh, changing environments. We take a deep dive into these challenges by exploring design considerations beyond those associated with conventional PCBAs.

Wired for Autonomy: Confronting PCBA Complexities in Mobile Robotics

Microtunneling is a trenchless construction method using a remotely controlled, steerable tunnel-boring machine for underground pipeline installation. It minimizes surface disruption, making it ideal for urban and sensitive areas. This technique ensures precise pipeline alignment and involves simultaneous excavation and pipe installation, enhancing safety and efficiency. Widely used for utilities, microtunneling's precision and reduced environmental impact make it a preferred choice for constructing water, sewage, and other infrastructure systems in congested settings.This article highlights the progress a young engineering student team from Switzerland has made with its self-developed micro tunnel boring machine. It describes the project on its way to revolutionizing the tunneling industry with specific regard to its innovative 3D-printing-like tunneling mechanism.<h2 dir="ltr">The Journey of Swissloop Tunneling</h2><a href="https://swisslooptunneling.ch/" target="_blank">Swissloop Tunneling</a> is a student group from ETH Zurich that focuses on developing innovative tunneling technologies. This team, composed of students, works on designing and testing tunnel boring machines that incorporate advanced technologies and methods. Their efforts aim to enhance the efficiency and reduce the costs of tunneling processes, contributing to the broader goal of revolutionizing tunneling to facilitate ambitious infrastructure projects, including proposed systems like the Hyperloop transportation system.Further reading:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/swissloop-tunneling-revolutionizing-the-tunneling-industry" target="_blank">Swissloop Tunneling: Revolutionizing the Tunneling Industry</a>Throughout the last 3 years, over 100 Swissloop Tunneling members have made contributions to a common goal: unleashing the potential of time-, cost-, and resource-efficient tunneling. In this regard, innovation is needed to accelerate the infrastructural progress to benefit society by supporting the rapid expansion of connected underground systems. Therefore, Swissloop Tunneling aims to contribute to advancements in technology, demonstrated by its two iterations of prototypical tunnel boring machines since its founding in 2020.&nbsp;Building upon its first model named Groundhog Alpha, the team has maintained the first machine components’ strengths while further extending it with technological add-ons, designing certain subsystems from scratch, conducting tests, and optimizing for higher reliability. Those efforts have now led to the current model Groundhog Beta.<h2 dir="ltr">The Groundhog Beta</h2>The current model of the association’s (micro) tunnel boring machine named Groundhog Beta consists, among others, of these functions:<h2 dir="ltr">Erosion</h2>Extracts and processes the underground material during the boring phase. At the front of the machine, where the cutterhead is placed, a special soil-conditioning foam is used to help decompose the sticky clay ground in Bastrop (TX), where the prototype was being tested. The erosion subsystem can further handle small to medium-sized rocks by crushing them into smaller pieces. A suctioning mechanism then transports the eroded material through and out of the machine. At this point, an external sedimentation system is ensuring a constant circulation of used water and the removal of the extracted material.<grammarly-extension data-grammarly-shadow-root="true" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; pointer-events: none;" class="dnXmp"></grammarly-extension><grammarly-extension data-grammarly-shadow-root="true" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; pointer-events: none;" class="dnXmp"></grammarly-extension><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzEzNzExOTM0NDY1LXguanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="groundhog-beta-soil-conditioning-foam">Fig. 1: Groundhog Beta tackling clay using soil conditioning foam<h2 dir="ltr">Navigation</h2>Consists of a two-component system. The steering component allows for angled digging and enables withholding stronger vibrations. It consists of a comprehensive sensory system to achieve an accurate autonomous movement of the machine. The propulsion component gets the machine moving forward by coordinated gripper plates that push the machine forward through the tunnel wall.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzEzNzEyMDA4NjA4LURTQzA1MDk5ICgxKS5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="groundhog-beta-hydraulic-powered-propulsion">Fig. 2: Swissloop Tunneling's hydraulics-powered propulsion component<h2 dir="ltr">Starting platform</h2>Placed in the launching area or on the surface, the starting platform enables the machine to launch from various angles.<h2 dir="ltr">Tunnel liner</h2>One of the most innovative aspects of Groundhog Beta is its tunnel lining mechanism. The liner mechanism simultaneously builds the interior tunnel wall while continuously moving forward with the tunnel boring machine, acting like a 3D printer. As it stands right now, a mechanism of this type has not been tested in tunneling yet and provides an ecologically sustainable solution regarding the reusability of the wall material. By using a pneumatic system, a polypropylene granulate to later build the tunnel wall gets transported into the machine. It then gets extruded by melting it and steering the viscous material into the right shape, finally being cooled down to achieve its intended tunnel wall structure. This mechanism has been optimized since last year - especially in terms of reliability. Additionally, an external testing system was designed to make isolated testing of this subsystem’s functionality possible. In the end, a 15mm thick tunnel wall is produced, being able to withhold the intense forces of machine and earth pressure.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzEzNzExOTc1MDE2LURTQzA2NDY1LmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="groundhog-beta-tunnel-lining">Fig. 3: Polymer starting to come out of the tunnel lining component on the right<h2 dir="ltr">Achievements Over the Years</h2>In addition to refining the engineering processes, the Swissloop Tunneling team has consistently participated in every Not-a-Boring Competition an event aimed at fostering innovation in tunneling technologies. Not-a-Boring Competition is organized each year in the USA by The Boring Company, founded by Elon Musk.<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OJ0tIHHXuS4??si=AofBJ4PDGhPfTxmg&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0&amp;enablejsapi=1&amp;origin=https://www.wevolver.com" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true">&nbsp;</iframe><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/osnFHy8KeYI?&amp;ab_channel=SwissloopTunneling&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0&amp;enablejsapi=1&amp;origin=https://www.wevolver.com" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe> The team has exhibited its excellence by winning awards for innovation and design at the first two competitions, held in Las Vegas (NV) in 2021 and Bastrop (TX) in 2023. Ahead of the 2024 competition in Bastrop, the team dedicated significant efforts to optimizing their machine and making key adaptations. These efforts paid off spectacularly at the Not-a-Boring Competition 2024, where Swissloop Tunneling triumphed by winning 1st Place Overall and the Champion Award.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzEzNzEyMDY1NjgyLURTQzA2MDg4LmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="swissloop-tunneling-team-picture">Fig. 4: The Swissloop Tunneling TeamWith these achievements, the team remains committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation. Swissloop Tunneling will continue to enhance and refine its machinery, further developing its capabilities to fully realize the remarkable potential of advanced tunneling technology.<h2 dir="ltr">Conclusion</h2>The advancements in tunneling technology showcased by the recent developments of the micro tunnel boring machines are reshaping the landscape of construction and infrastructure. By integrating innovative 3D-printing-like methods for tunnel lining, these machines are setting new benchmarks for efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability in tunnel construction.&nbsp;Such technological breakthroughs promise to revolutionize urban development and the future of transportation, making the once-distant dreams of projects like the Hyperloop increasingly attainable.

Innovative micro tunnel boring technologies are revolutionizing underground construction, setting new standards in efficiency and sustainability, and paving the way for future transformative infrastructure projects like the Hyperloop.

Transforming Underground Construction with Swissloop Tunneling

This story by Landon Hall was first published in the&nbsp;<a href="https://viterbischool.usc.edu/news/2024/04/teaching-robots-to-walk-on-the-moon-and-maybe-rescue-one-another/" target="_blank">USC Viterbi School of Engineering newsroom</a>.Georgia Tech alumna&nbsp;Feifei Qian&nbsp;(M.S. PHYS 2011, Ph.D. ECE 2015), an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and School of Advanced Computing, leads the NASA LASSIE project alongside co-investigator&nbsp;Frances Rivera-Hernández, an assistant professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Georgia Tech.&nbsp;Sharissa Thompson, a graduate student at Georgia Tech, is a student intern on the NASA Curiosity Rover project.The Palmer Glacier on Oregon’s Mount Hood isn’t the moon, but it’s a good place to practice.Some 6,000 feet up the snow-capped mountain, located about 70 miles east of Portland, a multidisciplinary team from the University of Southern California, Texas A&amp;M University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Oregon State University, Temple University, the University of Pennsylvania, and NASA gathered to turn loose a four-legged robot named Spirit into the wild.The team that included engineers, cognitive scientists, geoscientists, and planetary scientists field-tested Spirit as part of the LASSIE Project: Legged Autonomous Surface Science in Analog Environments. Spirit covered a variety of challenging terrains, using his spindly metal legs to amble over, across, and over around shifting dirt, slushy snow, and boulders during five days of testing in summer 2023. Sometimes he expertly traversed the hillside, while at other moments he teetered and fell over — all part of the process to better understand the substrate properties and learn to better walk on these extreme terrains. The practice time Spirit logged produced data that will be used to train future robots for use on intergalactic surfaces, like Earth’s moon and perhaps planets in our solar system.“A legged robot needs to be able to detect what is happening when it interacts with the ground underneath, and rapidly adjust its locomotion strategies accordingly,” says Feifei Qian, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and School of Advanced Computing, which is leading the project funded by NASA. “When the robot leg slips on ice or sinks into soft snow, it inspires us to look for new principles and strategies that can push the boundary of human knowledge and enable new technology. We learn and improve from the observed failures.”Watch this&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBTyelFFE1A" target="_blank">5-minute video</a>&nbsp;produced for the team by documentary filmmaker Sean Grasso.<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wBTyelFFE1A?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0&amp;enablejsapi=1&amp;origin=https://www.wevolver.com" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe> Spirit learns from every step.“Similar to the way that when we walk on uneven surfaces as humans, we can sort of detect how the ground is shifting beneath our feet, a legged robot is capable of the exact same thing,” says Cristina Wilson, a cognitive scientist at Oregon State University.<h2>The more machines the merrier</h2>Qian’s group doesn’t intend to stop at just one robot, wandering the wilderness alone. She and her former colleagues at Penn, Cynthia Sung, Mark Yim, Daniel Koditschek, and Douglas Jerolmack, received a two-year, $2 million grant from NASA they’re calling the TRUSSES Project: Temporarily, Robots Unite to Surmount Sandy Entrapments, Then Separate. They want to help the space agency put teams of robots on the Moon and have them work together on tasks. They would take the knowledge they came in with, and the data they collect on the mission, and communicate those details to each other.“They would sense how the ground conditions are,” Qian says, “and then exchange that information with one another, and collectively form a map of locomotion risk estimation. The team of robots can then use this traversal risk map to inform their planetary explorations: ‘There is an extremely soft sand patch that might be high-risk for wheeled rovers. Come over here, this might be a safer area.’ ”The robots in mind for this kind of work would be more than just Spirit: There would be a wheeled rover (great for payload and long distances), a Hexapedal robot (intermediate payload but better mobility than the wheeled), and dog-like ones like the rugged version of Spirit (highest mobility, shorter distances). And here’s the coolest part of that research, the part that sounds like something the Transformers would do. Or at least a team of castaways on Survivor: If one got in a jam, made immovable by loose dirt or a rock or a ravine, his bot-mates would arrive and link together and form a bridge, or a pyramid, to hoist their pal to safety. And then back to work.“When they plan for the strategy to pull the robot up, they’ll decide what force to exert and what position the robot should go to, while also compiling the terrain information,” Qian says. “That’s the key idea of how to use these capabilities: to both prevent and recover from locomotion failures in extreme terrain.”<h2>Back to Mount Hood</h2>Spirit gets around a variety of natural environments, to learn how to better move on challenging terrains. Qian has let him off his leash on Southern California beaches, and the multi-university team has field-tested him in the soft granules of White Sands National Park in New Mexico. But <a href="https://youtu.be/wBTyelFFE1A" target="_blank">the video</a> shot at Mount Hood shows just how otherworldly that landscape can be in these planetary-analog environments. This provides Spirit with plenty of opportunities to learn on earth, before potentially exploring other planets.“You look around us, it would be very hard to drive up this,” Ryan Ewing, a geologist from NASA Johnson Space Center, <a href="https://youtu.be/wBTyelFFE1A?feature=shared" target="_blank">shares</a>. “But as a legged being, as humans, we can step around it easily. A dog could walk around it easily. So this project is the proving ground that we can enable new science and new mobility on environments that are like other planets.”In fact, a dog is indeed frisking about: Howard, Wilson’s German shepherd, wandered about, with the kind of agility Spirit could only dream of.“We are going to observe how Howard moves in different types of snow and ice conditions,” Qian <a href="https://youtu.be/wBTyelFFE1A?feature=shared" target="_blank">says</a>. “What exactly, out of those combined motions, allows him to succeed on challenging terrain?”The LASSIE Project calls for two more trips for Spirit: to Mount Hood this summer, and to White Sands next year. The TRUSSES team, from USC and Penn, also plans to visit White Sands next year with Spirit and the other, new, multitasking robots. Imagine WALL-E with friends.<hr>The NASA PSTAR (Planetary Science and Technology Through Analog Research) number for this project is 80NSSC22K1313.

Researchers at Georgia Tech have teamed up with NASA and five peer institutions to teach dog-like robots to navigate craters of the moon and other challenging planetary surfaces.

Good Dog: LASSIE Spirit Learns to Walk on the Moon

For engineers working on soft robotics or wearable devices, keeping things light is a constant challenge: heavier materials require more energy to move around, and – in the case of wearables or prostheses – cause discomfort. Elastomers are synthetic polymers that can be manufactured with a range of mechanical properties, from stiff to stretchy, making them a popular material for such applications. But manufacturing elastomers that can be shaped into complex 3D structures that go from rigid to rubbery has been unfeasible until now.“Elastomers are usually cast so that their composition cannot be changed in all three dimensions over short length scales. To overcome this problem, we developed DNGEs: 3D-printable double network granular elastomers that can vary their mechanical properties to an unprecedented degree,” says Esther Amstad, head of the <a href="https://www.epfl.ch/labs/smal/" target="_blank">Soft Materials Laboratory</a> in EPFL’s School of Engineering.Eva Baur, a PhD student in Amstad’s lab, used DNGEs to print a prototype ‘finger’, complete with rigid ‘bones’ surrounded by flexible ‘flesh’. The finger was printed to deform in a pre-defined way, demonstrating the technology’s potential to manufacture devices that are sufficiently supple to bend and stretch, while remaining firm enough to manipulate objects.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1713431737943-2048x1152.jpg" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The lab's DNGE prototype ‘finger’ with rigid ‘bones’ surrounded by flexible ‘flesh’ © Adrian AlberolaWith these advantages, the researchers believe that DNGEs could facilitate the design of soft actuators, sensors, and wearables free of heavy, bulky mechanical joints. The research has been published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adma.202313189" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Advanced Materials</a>.<h2>Two elastomeric networks; twice as versatile</h2>The key to the DNGEs’ versatility lies in engineering two elastomeric networks. First, elastomer microparticles are produced from oil-in-water emulsion drops. These microparticles are placed in a precursor solution, where they absorb elastomer compounds and swell up. The swollen microparticles are then used to make a 3D printable ink, which is loaded into a bioprinter to create a desired structure. The precursor is polymerized within the 3D-printed structure, creating a second elastomeric network that rigidifies the entire object.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1713431770492-3840x2159+%281%29.jpg" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Example of DNGEs (3D-printable double network granular elastomers) © Titouan VeuilletWhile the composition of the first network determines the structure’s stiffness, the second determines its fracture toughness, meaning that the two networks can be fine-tuned independently to achieve a combination of stiffness, toughness, and fatigue resistance. The use of elastomers over hydrogels – the material used in state-of-the-art approaches – has the added advantage of creating structures that are water-free, making them more stable over time. To top it off, DNGEs can be printed using commercially available 3D printers.“The beauty of our approach is that anyone with a standard bioprinter can use it,” Amstad emphasizes.One exciting potential application of DNGEs is in devices for motion-guided rehabilitation, where the ability to support movement in one direction while restricting it in another could be highly useful. Further development of DNGE technology could result in prosthetics, or even motion guides to assist surgeons. Sensing remote movements, for example in robot-assisted crop harvesting or underwater exploration, is another area of application.Amstad says that the Soft Materials Lab is already working on the next steps toward developing such applications by integrating active elements – such as responsive materials and electrical connections – into DNGE structures.<hr>ReferencesE. Baur, B. Tiberghien, E. Amstad, 3D Printing of Double Network Granular Elastomers with Locally Varying Mechanical Properties. Adv. Mater. 2024, 2313189.&nbsp;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202313189" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202313189</a>

Example of DNGEs (3D-printable double network granular elastomers) © Titouan Veuillet

EPFL researchers are targeting the next generation of soft actuators and robots with an elastomer-based ink for 3D printing objects with locally changing mechanical properties, eliminating the need for cumbersome mechanical joints.

An ink for 3D-printing flexible devices without mechanical joints

In Singapore, DEEP Robotics, in collaboration with its official partner EGP, is participating in the AMR SPPG Tunnel Project of the Singapore Powergrid (SPPG). This project utilizes quadruped robots for power tunnel inspections and integrates related detection systems to provide early warnings for emergencies. This marks the first time domestically-produced quadruped robots have been involved in overseas power industry applications. The relevant team has conducted extensive training and deployment locally.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzEzNTA2OTA1MDQ4LeWbvueJhzEucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><blockquote>“Additionally, in South Korea, a factory production line management project employs DEEP Robotics quadruped robots for line meter recognition, tray handling, and component picking” said Zheng Dongxin, Product Manager of DEEP Robotics.</blockquote><h3>Quadruped Robot Applications in 26 Provinces and Cities in China</h3>Public information shows that DEEP Robotics' industrial-grade quadruped robot has served more than 100 clients in 26 provinces and cities in China including Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, Hebei, Shandong, Zhejiang, Hubei, and Anhui. Moreover, in countries such as Singapore, South Korea and more, several DEEP Robotics industry projects have also been implemented, marking the first overseas industry application of domestically-produced quadruped robots.During the recent Spring Festival, quadruped robots stood guard at a certain ±800kV converter station in Hunan Province. Faced with significantly increased pressure on power guarantee during the Spring Festival, it utilized its superior full-process autonomous inspection capabilities and 24-hour all-weather operation capabilities. Equipped with a dual-light gimbal and a series of equipment modules, it replaced humans in conducting inspections in complex and dangerous industrial environments, helping companies identify potential risks, ensuring the smooth operation of Spring Festival power maintenance, and allowing everyone to celebrate the festival with peace of mind.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzEzNTA2NzY4NjYwLeWbvueJhzIuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">In a substation in Anhui, the "robot dog + drone" low-altitude integrated intelligent operation and maintenance inspection was carried out, achieving autonomous inspection, automatic defect identification, timely detection of equipment operation abnormalities, and improving the reliable power supply capacity of the substation.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzEzNTA2Nzg1OTMyLeWbvueJhzMucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">At a power station in Guangdong, quadruped robots conducted inspections tirelessly against wind and rain. Compared with traditional intelligent robots, its inspection point quantity increased by 60%. Equipped with dual-light gimbal cameras, it can identify 30 types of power equipment defects and read 9 types of meter readings. Previously, to achieve full coverage of intelligent equipment in substations, at least 9 intelligent robots were required. Now, with just one quadruped robot, it can be achieved, saving 70% of the investment in intelligent operation and maintenance costs. Unlike drones, quadruped robots have rich external device mounting capabilities. The project team attempted to mount a high-precision force-controlled six-axis mechanical arm on the robot body, enabling it to assist in maintenance, support emergency safety operations, and perform emergency breaker operations with high precision under extreme conditions.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzEzNTA2ODA3OTY4LeWbvueJhzQuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">In a 220 kV cable tunnel in Fujian, maintenance personnel used quadruped cable inspection robots to comprehensively diagnose the health of power equipment. According to media reports, it can timely detect 95% of cable line surface defects, overheating faults, and channel fires, significantly improving inspection efficiency.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzEzNTA2ODQ0MzExLeWbvueJhzUucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">At the receiving-end station of a ±1100 kV ultra-high voltage direct current transmission line in Anhui, maintenance personnel used quadruped robots and other intelligent devices to conduct inspections to ensure the safe operation of power equipment. With the help of intelligent AI algorithms, autonomous collection, identification, calculation, and diagnostic analysis of equipment status and other data can be achieved.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzEzNTA2ODY2MjIwLeWbvueJhzYucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">In the 8-meter underground power gallery in Hangzhou, since the 19th Asian Games, DEEP Robotics’ quadruped robots have been working for more than half a year. State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power Research Institute, DEEP Robotics, MY Software, and other units have collaborated to perceive the environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity, harmful gas concentrations, and smoke density in the gallery through quadruped robots, and real-time monitoring of cable operation indicators such as protective layer circulation, partial discharge, and operating temperature. With the help of daily intelligent autonomous inspection and weekly intelligent active detection of new equipment, staff only need to inspect once every six months and conduct live measurements once a year, making the work process more streamlined and the inspection results more accurate.Looking at the world, as the wave of "Robot + AI" sweeps across the globe, global industry giants are also accelerating digitization and preparing for quadruped robot industry application projects. Whether the application potential of quadruped robots will explode in 2024 remains to be seen, but it is worth looking forward to! Additionally, DEEP Robotics (Hall 5 D46-3) is set to participate in the Hannover Messe in Germany from April 22nd to 26th. At the event, the quadruped robot will make its debut, showcasing its capabilities. Industrial scenes often involve significant dangers and tedious tasks. Challenges such as stairs, outdoor harsh weather conditions, extreme temperatures, darkness, and other adverse environments hinder traditional robots from entering industrial sites for operations. However, DEEP Robotics' quadruped robot can effectively address these issues.

In Singapore, DEEP Robotics, in collaboration with its official partner EGP, is participating in the AMR SPPG Tunnel Project of the Singapore Powergrid. This project utilizes quadruped robots for power tunnel inspections and integrates related detection systems to provide warnings for emergencies.

DEEP Robotics Lands Applications in Singapore and South Korea! Will Quadruped Robots Experience an Application Boom?

In this episode, we discuss research coming out of George Mason University where the RobotiXX lab has been training robots to drive more like humans

Podcast: Robot That Drives Better Than The Average American

<h3 id="isPasted">Background</h3>Global water pollution presents a formidable challenge, with traditional remediation methods often falling short due to their inefficacy, high costs, and environmental burden. This context <a href="https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2023/NR/D3NR03592A" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">underscores</a> the urgent need for innovative solutions that are both effective and sustainable. <h3>The Team and Their Inspiration</h3>"CoffeeBots" are a <a href="https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/virginia/rusty-coffee-cleaning-water-george-mason-university/65-0de9e05b-b8ed-4b5c-863d-de7323f75a09" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">collaborative invention</a> by Jeff Moran, an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at George Mason University, Amit Kumar Singh, a postdoctoral researcher at GMU, and Tarini Basireddy, an undergraduate student at Johns Hopkins University. Together, they engineered a low-cost and environmentally friendly solution to address severe water contamination issues using everyday materials. <iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cDSJA1JBTNk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0&amp;enablejsapi=1&amp;origin=https://www.wevolver.com" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe> <h3>Technical Details of CoffeeBots</h3>Composition and Manufacturing: CoffeeBots <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDSJA1JBTNk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">consist</a> of spent coffee grounds coated with iron oxide nanoparticles. The synthesis of these nanoparticles employs green chemistry principles, ensuring an eco-friendly production process. The nanoparticles adhere to the coffee grounds, leveraging the grounds’ natural porous and hydrophobic surface, which is ideal for adsorbing oil and microplastics.Functionalization: Further enhancing their pollutant-binding capabilities, CoffeeBots are <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDSJA1JBTNk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">functionalized</a> with ascorbic acid. This addition targets the removal of methylene blue dye, a common pollutant in industrial wastewater. The ascorbic acid acts both as a bioadsorbent and a reducing agent, facilitating the breakdown of the dye into less harmful compounds.Magnetic Navigation and Recovery: The integration of iron oxide nanoparticles allows for the magnetic manipulation of CoffeeBots. This feature enables the remote guidance of CoffeeBots through contaminated waters and their subsequent retrieval via magnetic forces once the cleanup task is completed. This magnetic property not only simplifies the operation but also allows for the reuse of CoffeeBots, significantly <a href="https://www.gmu.edu/news/2024-01/mason-engineers-develop-rusty-coffee-grounds-remove-pollutants-water" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reducing</a> the cost and environmental impact of the cleanup process.Performance and Efficiency: In practical applications, CoffeeBots demonstrate a high efficacy in capturing and removing oil, microplastics, and dye pollutants from seawater. Their movement, driven by external magnetic fields, increases their contact with pollutants, enhancing the efficiency of pollutant uptake compared to static methods. Laboratory tests confirm that CoffeeBots can be recycled multiple times without significant loss of functionality, <a href="https://www.gmu.edu/news/2024-01/mason-engineers-develop-rusty-coffee-grounds-remove-pollutants-water" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">showcasing</a> their durability and long-term usability. <h3>Significance of the Solution</h3>CoffeeBots <a href="https://www.gmu.edu/news/2024-01/mason-engineers-develop-rusty-coffee-grounds-remove-pollutants-water" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">exemplify</a> a breakthrough in water purification technology by combining low-cost materials, innovative nano-engineering, and environmental sustainability. This technology not only addresses the immediate need for effective water purification but also aligns with global sustainability goals by repurposing waste products and minimizing chemical inputs. <iframe width="640" height="360" style="border:1px solid #e6e6e6;" src="https://www.wusa9.com/embeds/video/responsive/65-7e8fe0e0-65f0-4168-aee7-1a883a848df4/iframe" allowfullscreen="true" webkitallowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe> <h3>Future Prospects and Applications</h3>Ongoing research <a href="https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/virginia/rusty-coffee-cleaning-water-george-mason-university/65-0de9e05b-b8ed-4b5c-863d-de7323f75a09" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aims</a> to extend the capabilities of CoffeeBots, including the exploration of solar-activated propulsion mechanisms that would eliminate the need for external magnetic controls, thereby enhancing the autonomy of the CoffeeBots for more extensive and less supervised water treatment operations. <h3>Conclusion</h3>The creation of CoffeeBots by the team at George Mason University marks a meaningful advancement in nano- and environmental engineering. By harnessing simple yet innovative materials and methods, they have developed a promising solution to combat the pervasive issue of water pollution. As this technology evolves, it holds the <a href="https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2023/NR/D3NR03592A" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">potential</a> to revolutionize water purification practices globally, offering a potential beacon of hope for millions affected by polluted water sources.

How George Mason University's Nanotechnology Research Is Turning Waste From Your Daily Brew into a Powerful Pollution Solution

How to Turn Used Coffee Grounds into Water-Cleaning Superbots

NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin Module and Developer Kit

Nvidia Jetson and Edge Impulse facilitate Edge AI development, offering computational power and model training platforms for real-world applications.

Building High-Performance Edge AI Solutions with Nvidia Jetson and Edge Impulse

In the ever-evolving landscape of production and logistics, robotics &amp; automation play an increasingly vital role, driven by the wave of digitization. However, as with any technology, there are also hurdles which have to be overcome, especially when it comes to the production of customized and lightweight parts in a cost-efficient manner. This is where 3D printing steps in. Join us in this blog article as we explore the benefits and diverse applications of 3D printing for robotic parts and learn about the connection of those two technologies.<h2>Understanding 3D Printing</h2>Before exploring their interconnection, let’s understand 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing. Additive manufacturing enables the conversion of digital designs into tangible objects by building up layers of material. You just need the right design and production can start without any huge production ramp-up. This freedom enables intricate designs, rapid prototyping, and on-demand production of customized parts, offering a level of flexibility and innovation that has redefined the manufacturing landscape.<figure><img width="1024" height="299" src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzEzMjc0NzI1NjAzLTE3MTMyNzQ3MjU2MDMucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" alt="3D-Printing-How-it-Works" srcset="https://replique.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3D-Printing-How-it-Works-1024x299.jpg 1024w, https://replique.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3D-Printing-How-it-Works-300x88.jpg 300w, https://replique.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3D-Printing-How-it-Works-768x224.jpg 768w, https://replique.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3D-Printing-How-it-Works-1536x449.jpg 1536w, https://replique.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3D-Printing-How-it-Works.jpg 1900w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" class="fr-fic fr-dii">From digital file to printed parts in hours.</figure><h2>Custom Parts with 3D Printing</h2>Robotics is one of the industries, where these benefits of 3D printing can play a crucial role. And there are many reasons for it. One is the possibility to create custom parts of robotics and automation machinery using 3D printing. Traditional manufacturing methods often fall short when it comes to creating parts, such as grippers, tailored to specific tasks without incurring exorbitant costs due to the creation of specialized tools and molds. Thanks to 3D printing, even small players (SMEs), can use 3D printing to create budget-friendly robot parts, as there are no minimum order quantity, meaning they can produce parts starting from lot-size one. <img width="1024" height="768" src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzEzMjc1MDQ2OTM1LTE3MTMyNzUwNDY5MzUucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" alt="" srcset="https://replique.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3D-printed-caps-robot-automation-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://replique.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3D-printed-caps-robot-automation-300x225.jpg 300w, https://replique.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3D-printed-caps-robot-automation-768x576.jpg 768w, https://replique.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3D-printed-caps-robot-automation-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://replique.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3D-printed-caps-robot-automation.jpg 1900w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" class="fr-fic fr-dii" style="width: 758px;">Robot caps can be cost efficiently produced in small volumes via 3D printing.<h2>Lightweight Parts Thanks to Intricate Designs</h2>Weight is a critical factor in optimizing robotic performance. Traditional manufacturing often results in excess weight due to subtractive processes. 3D printing revolutionizes this by allowing engineers to design intricate, hollow structures, optimizing weight without compromising strength. This newfound agility finds applications in drones, exoskeletons, and various robotic systems.<h2>Part Consolidation and Modulation</h2>3D printing’s technical benefit extends to the consolidation of multiple parts into a single, complex structure. This not only reduces overall weight but also minimizes assembly challenges and inventory complexity. On the other side, 3D printing allows the separation of a single part into distinct components, simplifying modifications if needed.<h2>Quick Prototyping and Design Changes</h2>Compared to traditional methods, 3D printing offers unparalleled agility in prototyping and design alterations. Engineers and designers can swiftly translate conceptual ideas into tangible prototypes. This means they can test a prototype out almost immediately to see if it’s a good fit. And if they want to tweak or change the design, they can easily do that thanks to the flexibility of 3D printing, empowering innovators to adapt and optimize robotic components with unprecedented speed. This not only accelerates the product development cycle and reduces time-to-market considerably, but also fosters a culture of continuous improvement in the ever-evolving field of robotics.<img width="1024" height="768" src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzEzMjc0ODUwNjU0LTE3MTMyNzQ4NTA2NTQucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" alt="" srcset="https://replique.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3D-printing-prototyping-robotics-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://replique.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3D-printing-prototyping-robotics-300x225.jpg 300w, https://replique.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3D-printing-prototyping-robotics-768x576.jpg 768w, https://replique.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3D-printing-prototyping-robotics-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://replique.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3D-printing-prototyping-robotics.jpg 1900w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" class="fr-fic fr-dii">3D printing can be used for prototyping and visualizing products and ideas.<h2>Spare Parts On-Demand</h2>The wear and tear faced by robotics and automation machinery can lead to costly downtime. Traditional methods of obtaining spare parts involve a time-consuming process of ordering, shipping, and, in some cases, custom manufacturing. 3D printing provides a rapid and cost-effective solution for local or even on-site production of spare parts, just on-demand. Instead of waiting for shipments or relying on extensive inventories, robots can be quickly restored to operational status with 3D printed replacements. This capability significantly minimizes downtime, ensuring continuous robot functionality. At an automation fair for example, Replique was able to get needed spare parts of an exhibitor within a day.Learn more about the benefits of <a href="https://replique.io/3d-printed-spare-parts/" target="_blank">3D printing for the production of spare parts.</a><h2>Application examples</h2><h3>Grippers</h3>Especially, grippers, are undergoing a revolution thanks to additive manufacturing. It enables the creation of grippers in small volumes that are not only cost-efficient but also remarkably lightweight and optimized. When the need arises to change grippers, 3D printing facilitates a swift process with short development and production times. This capability translates into faster movements, reduced cycle times, and an overall more agile manufacturing process.<figure><img width="1024" height="768" src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzEzMjc0NzI2Mzc4LTE3MTMyNzQ3MjYzNzgucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" alt="3D printing for robotic parts_gripper" srcset="https://replique.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3D-printed-grippers-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://replique.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3D-printed-grippers-300x225.jpg 300w, https://replique.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3D-printed-grippers-768x576.jpg 768w, https://replique.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3D-printed-grippers-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://replique.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3D-printed-grippers.jpg 1900w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" class="fr-fic fr-dii">Cobot gripper designed for 3D printing.</figure>In a recent cooperation with struktur.form.design Engineering GmbH for example, we were able to reduce weight of a cobot gripper by 78%, part count by 84% and overall production cost savings by 30%, just via redesigning and producing via additive manufacturing.And the benefits extend beyond industrial automation, making a significant impact on healthcare robotics as well. In surgical robots, for instance, 3D printed grippers can handle specialized instruments and execute delicate tasks.<h3>Embedded sensors and electronic components</h3>Beyond these core connections, the collaboration between 3D printing and robotics unfolds into an expansive canvas of possibilities. For example, embedding sensors and electronic components directly into robotic structures using 3D printing enhances their functionality and streamlines assembly processes.<h3>Soft robotics</h3>For soft robotics – those dealing with flexible and deformable structures – 3D printing opens avenues for the creation of parts that move and adapt like real muscles. Researchers from the Delft University of Technology, for instance, have pioneered the use of <a href="https://pure.tudelft.nl/ws/portalfiles/portal/142950401/s41563_022_01429_5.pdf" target="_blank" data-lf-fd-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true">3D printing in manufacturing soft robots with intricate viscoelastic hydrogels</a>. These materials withstand high pressures and open new possibilities in fields like medical prosthetics.<h3>Innovation and Education</h3>Moreover, 3D printing serves as a catalyst for innovation and education in robotics. It fosters creativity among students and researchers, accelerating the learning curve and driving advancements in the development of robotic systems.<h2>Robots as 3D Printers</h2>The marriage of robotics and 3D printing can even extend beyond conventional roles. Here, robots themselves become integral 3D printers, amplifying the scope and scale of additive manufacturing. Especially noteworthy in large-scale 3D printing, robotic arms deposit materials layer by layer to create objects. This facilitates the creation of parts on a scale previously unattainable in 3D printing.<figure><img width="1024" height="576" src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzEzMjc0NzI2MDYxLTE3MTMyNzQ3MjYwNjEucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" alt="robots-as-3D-printers" srcset="https://replique.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/robots-as-3D-printers-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://replique.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/robots-as-3D-printers-300x169.jpg 300w, https://replique.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/robots-as-3D-printers-768x432.jpg 768w, https://replique.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/robots-as-3D-printers-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://replique.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/robots-as-3D-printers-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://replique.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/robots-as-3D-printers.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" class="fr-fic fr-dii">Thanks to the use of robots, even houses can now be 3D printed.</figure><h2>Conclusion</h2>The intersection of 3D printing and robotics reshapes how we conceive, design, and build robotic systems. From lightweight components to customized grippers and on-demand spare parts, this collaboration represents a paradigm shift, offering tailored solutions that enhance the efficiency and adaptability of robotic systems.

Explore the benefits of 3D printing for light-weight, customized and on-demand parts.

How to Leverage 3D Printing in Robotics and Automation

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<blockquote>“For a new product to be successful, it is not enough for it to work—almost everything around us works quite well. The design matters.”</blockquote>This is what Iván Arakistain, a technologist and researcher at Tecnalia said. After winning the Connect for Good challenge, we interviewed Arakistain to discuss his award-winning project on sustainable logistics infrastructure and his insights into the logistics industry, particularly that of perishable goods.Logistics is a dynamic field fraught with challenges, and sustainability is a growing concern, particularly in transporting perishable goods. Iván Arakistain, representing Tecnalia, won first place in the Connect for Good challenge with an innovative concept that leverages a low-power IoT solution to monitor and enable eco-friendly transport of perishable goods.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/connect-for-good-low-power-wireless-sustainability-challenge" target="_blank">Connect for Good Challenge</a> is a joint initiative by Nordic Semiconductor, Mouser Electronics, Soracom, and Crowd Supply aimed at fostering innovation for social and environmental good. It brought together a worldwide network of engineers, entrepreneurs, and developers around one mission: “to devise low-power wireless solutions that contribute towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”&nbsp;Arakistain's winning project is a game-changer in sustainable logistics. Through advanced monitoring and anomaly detection, this innovative solution optimizes the transport of perishable goods while eliminating the need for energy-intensive refrigerated cargo trailers. Thus, it significantly reduces carbon emissions and operational costs while ensuring the integrity of the cold chain. Through the integration of IoT technology, including low-energy sensors and GPS and coupled with mini solar panels for autonomy, the project sets a new standard for eco-friendly transport in the logistics industry, with broad implications for global sustainability efforts. The key component of this project is the integration of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/specs/nrf9160-development-kit" target="_blank">nRF9160 Development Kit</a>, chosen specifically for its low energy consumption and reliable cellular connectivity.In this exclusive interview, Arakistain sheds light on his journey, the inspiration behind his project, and the impact he envisions on the logistics industry's future.<h2 dir="ltr">Interview with Iván Arakistain of Tecnalia</h2><h3 dir="ltr">Can you briefly describe your winning project and the main problem it addresses in the logistics industry?</h3>One of the main challenges of the logistics industry is the sustainable transport transition. This focuses on decarbonizing the transport industry, especially because today, at least in Spain, it’s heavily based on trucks; most of the logistics happen on the road, and trucks consume a lot of fuel. So, we have to shift from that to a cleaner way of transport.Some years ago, we had a customer who sold precooked food.&nbsp;They mentioned something to us that sparked this idea process: If they could deliver the food in one day from their factory to the end customer, they would be able to avoid refrigerated transportation, especially since it’s relatively expensive, requires a lot of fuel, and is very complex.So, we started exploring that. At that time, the technology was not quite ready for the application, mainly for areas like the south of Spain, where it's very hot in the summer. The logistics were not as fast as today, but as things have evolved, we are now able to transport food—or perishable goods—in proper condition to the end customer in a short a time as needed so it arrives safely.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1713160590293-0_Ivan+Arakistain.jpg" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h3 dir="ltr">What inspired you to focus on developing a more sustainable method for transporting perishable goods?</h3>Well, the main goal is to deliver goods fast and with as low carbon emissions as possible. For that, we must change from only using transport by trucks to combining truck and train, which is obviously much cleaner environmentally. By doing so we can ensure more availability, lower cost per kilometer, and a smaller cargo footprint.&nbsp;Let’s look at how your project aligns with the Sustainability Development Goals. Could you tell us how your solution targets these goals?Our solution’s practical implications impact goals 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and 13 (Climate Action). We are very focused on energy efficiency and sustainability goals for cities and districts. Our application can help reduce the cargo footprint and accelerate the transition from the current fuel-based transport to a more electrified way of transport.&nbsp;Of course, we cannot transition directly from 0 to 100%, so we must ensure the transition is smooth. In our area of focus, the technology background is in artificial intelligence for microcontrollers and small devices. We embed this intelligence into the embedded device so that we can know via our electronic sensors if the transported food is in good condition. We can also sense whether any volatile compounds can impact the condition of the food.By making those changes, we estimate that up to 10% of carbon reduction is possible. And that also applies to energy consumption, even though I’m not sure if it’s a linear relationship. However, the estimation stands.<h3 dir="ltr">Let's move onto the technical side. How does your solution work? Is embedded AI the differentiator from traditional energy-intensive refrigeration?</h3>As I said, we are focused on AI for microcontrollers. So, first, we develop the AI models in servers and powerful computers. Then, we reduce those models so that they can run in a small controller with a few kilobytes or a small RAM. For this application, we are focused on two types of inference.The first type of inference is air quality to determine the state of the product. The second inference type is AI for vibration analysis, which is something we have implemented here and in other projects. In this case, we can analyze if the vibration of products in the truck matches the orientation to make sure everything is good. In other cases, we also do this AI analysis of vibration for structural health and many other applications.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1713160621737-1_Manufactured+PCB+Top.jpg" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h3 dir="ltr">How accurate and precise are the AI model results in a real-world application?&nbsp;</h3>There are two processes that we do. First, we collect all the data, and then we perform model training and model testing on our computers. We split the data set into two parts: about 80% of the data is used for training the model, and the remaining 20% or so is used for testing the model.In our computer simulation, the results were very good; you can get up to 96% accuracy. But we both know that’s not the reality. Getting a very high score virtually means the model is quite good. However, when you go into the real world and flash the firmware into the microcontroller you’re using in the actual sensor, the accuracy decreases a bit. Still, we can get good enough accuracy with this model.Were there any particular challenges you faced in the development process, and how did you overcome them?As I said earlier, the original idea came some years ago with this customer we were working with. They produced precooked food, and we did some real testing with them. We sent the food with a trucker and other things to actual customers. At that moment, we realized that the technology was not quite ready, not because of the electronics but because of the isolation and insulation challenges. For that, you’d need excellent isolating materials so that temperatures are kept in the correct range.&nbsp;This was about eight to nine years ago. At that point, we did develop a complete solution, and we knew the idea was good, but it was not quite ready because of the isolation challenge. Since then, we have kept thinking and working on it, and now we know that it is a feasible application, especially since there are much more efficient containers for food transport than years ago. There are better isolation materials, which helped this improve.<h3 dir="ltr">Looking into the next decade, what are the biggest hurdles in scaling and implementing your solution across different regions and logistics networks?</h3>The main difficulty is the limited time for delivery: It has to be done within the first 24 to 48 hours and the products need a low temperature range.Of course, I think it's scalable. Still, one of the biggest challenges is the container. We need to use special containers with good insulation for this. Basically, once we are able to prove to customers that they are going to save so much on each transportation, then it makes sense.So far, we have tested with first-class precooked food, which is already prepared and ready for eating upon reheating in a restaurant or somewhere else. We are not so focused on uncooked food.<h3 dir="ltr">Let’s dive a bit into the economic side of things. What are the economic benefits of your solution for logistics companies and end users?</h3>The economic benefits mainly rely on the use of nonrefrigerated transportation. As a result, you can save about 10% of the transportation cost. It consumes less fuel and energy. It's simply more efficient. We are also very interested in combining ways of transportation: using not only trucks but also trains. Here in Spain, we have quite a robust train infrastructure, but nowadays, it is more focused on passengers than goods. So, I think we must leverage the train infrastructure and combine it with trucks in the future.Also, for international shipments, combining the truck with the train is important so that the driver does not need to drive so far. The truck driver would simply mount the truck with the goods from a train carriage, move onto another carriage to collect goods from there, and then deliver them locally.This is a standard logistics process. We are simply using the existing infrastructure. The only additional requirement would be the special containers for the food that I mentioned earlier.<h3 dir="ltr">You mentioned one customer already.&nbsp;Have you discussed this with other members of your target market? How have your target customers responded to your solution so far?</h3>Yes. 15 days ago, I was at a logistics and transportation fair in Bilbao. I gave a speech there and talked to potential customers. Clearly, there is some potential, but of course, we need to keep the focus on the end customer.<h3 dir="ltr">By focusing on the end customer, what strategies are you employing to encourage the adoption of your technology within the market?&nbsp;</h3>In Tecnalia, we work with different approaches to ensure the technology adoption. We identify and manage deep-tech business opportunities, through a venture building process to accelerate their industrial commercialization. We create new startups or commercialize licenses, accelerating the incubation of technological assets until they are turned into investment opportunities capable of generating economic and social value.&nbsp;<h3 dir="ltr">How do you see your solution evolving in the next five years?</h3>I think that it has quite a lot of potential. We are still in a transition stage, where not everything is well-defined. The path is clear: we have to shift to the electrification of transport. But the speed at which this is going to happen is yet to be clear. Yet, I think that it has significant potential for the future because logistics is a fast-growing sector.<h3 dir="ltr">Is there close competition to your technology from bigger companies already established in the logistics market?</h3>Yes, there is. For example, some years ago, big companies like Amazon tried to sell perishable food to end customers in a very short time. However, they were not very successful because it’s not easy to deliver that fast in a cost-efficient way.Our case is a little different. It focuses on precooked food for industrial partners. The customer I mentioned earlier is not selling to end customers but rather to restaurants and other businesses. So yes, there are big players, but they are not entirely in the same market niche as ours.<h3 dir="ltr">Are there other applications or industries where your technology could be applied beyond the niche cold chain logistics?</h3>Yes, we use embedded AI for structural health monitoring in various cases. Here, you would need to know the condition of a structure. In Tecnalia, for example, we have some dedicated lab equipment, such as sensitive accelerometers. But the cost of such devices is typically quite high. They are not devices you can leave on a structure but rather devices you use within a specific timeframe.So, we are developing small, affordable devices that can use MEMS accelerometers, inexpensive microcontrollers, and embedded AI to provide early warnings if there is an anomaly, failure, or any other event on which the model is trained.The new devices we are developing would cost as much as an order of magnitude less than the typical measuring and monitoring equipment. They would only provide an early warning, after which the experts could go and perform more extensive measurement and testing.Another example of our embedded AI would be audio detection. Consider a large dataset of street sounds that can take over six gigabytes – that is a lot of information. For this, it's possible to train an AI model that takes no more than kilobytes – which is significantly less – and embed it into a microcontroller to classify the sounds. We tested this, and the model was able to accurately identify and classify the sounds of a car horn, for example, a dog barking or children playing. This is a solution to tackle problems with lots of data using a compressed model that can accurately classify the data without requiring so much power.<h3 dir="ltr">Going back to the project experience, what have you learned from working on this project that you think is crucial for innovation in sustainable technologies?</h3>At Tecnalia, we are experts in many different fields. The most interesting thing about working in an applied research and technological development centre like Tecnalia is that I can collaborate with experts in multiple fields, such as electronics, logistics, structures, and energy efficiency. For such projects to work, I have to work with lots of people to solve the problem.&nbsp;Also, experts in AI are not all the same. Some of them are more focused on big processors like NVidia devices, and we need to collaborate with them to understand the models and be able to quantize and reduce the models down to the microcontroller level.What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs or innovators looking to make a difference in the green technology space?&nbsp;My advice would be to prototype as much as they can. In electronics, we are quite used to prototyping fast. That's a good thing for our sector. But in other areas, it might be more difficult to prototype. I would also encourage people to collaborate with other experts and learn from them.<h2 dir="ltr">Conclusion</h2>Iván Arakistain's winning project exemplifies the potential for low-power IoT solutions to revolutionize the transportation of perishable goods. By leveraging advanced monitoring and anomaly detection, Arakistain's project offers a promising avenue for reducing carbon emissions and operational costs while maintaining the integrity of the cold chain.&nbsp;As we look to the future, the scalability and adoption of such solutions present ongoing challenges. Yet the momentum generated by initiatives like the Connect for Good Challenge signals a promising trajectory towards more innovation and sustainable solutions and systems. For more information about the challenge and its winners, check out our dedicated article:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/connect-for-good-challenge-winners-logistics-infrastructure-monitoring-smart-bees-and-bioreactors" target="_blank">Connect for Good Challenge Winners: Logistics Infrastructure Monitoring, Smart Bees and Bioreactors</a>.

Introducing the Winner of the Connect for Good Challenge 2023


Towards Sustainable Logistics Infrastructure: An Interview with Tecnalia

Researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have developed a programmable metafluid with tunable springiness, optical properties, viscosity and even the ability to transition between a Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluid.&nbsp;The first-of-its-kind metafluid uses a suspension of small, elastomer spheres — between 50 to 500 microns — that buckle under pressure, radically changing the characteristics of the fluid. The metafluid could be used in everything from hydraulic actuators to program robots, to intelligent shock absorbers that can dissipate energy depending on the intensity of the impact, to optical devices that can transition from clear to opaque.The research is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07163-z" target="_blank">Nature</a>.&nbsp;“We are just scratching the surface of what is possible with this new class of fluid,” said Adel Djellouli, a Research Associate in Materials Science and Mechanical Engineering at SEAS and first author of the paper. “With this one platform, you could do so many different things in so many different fields.”<blockquote>"We are just scratching the surface of what is possible with this new class of fluid. With this one platform, you could do so many different things in so many different fields."ADEL DJELLOULI, RESEARCH ASSOCIATE IN MATERIALS SCIENCE AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING</blockquote>Metamaterials — artificially engineered materials whose properties are determined by their structure rather than composition — have been widely used in a range of applications for years. But most of the materials — such as the metalenses pioneered in the lab of <a href="https://seas.harvard.edu/person/federico-capasso" target="_blank">Federico Capasso</a>, Robert L. Wallace Professor of Applied Physics and Vinton Hayes Senior Research Fellow in Electrical Engineering at SEAS — are solid.&nbsp;“Unlike solid metamaterials, metafluids have the unique ability to flow and adapt to the shape of their container,” said <a href="https://seas.harvard.edu/person/katia-bertoldi" target="_blank">Katia Bertoldi</a>, William and Ami Kuan Danoff Professor of Applied Mechanics at SEAS and senior author of the paper. “Our goal was to create a metafluid that not only possesses these remarkable attributes but also provides a platform for programmable viscosity, compressibility and optical properties.”Using a highly scalable fabrication technique developed in the lab of<a href="https://seas.harvard.edu/person/david-weitz" target="_blank">&nbsp;David A. Weitz</a>, Mallinckrodt Professor of Physics and of Applied Physics at SEAS, the research team produced hundreds of thousands of these highly-deformable spherical capsules filled with air and suspended them in silicon oil. When the pressure inside the liquid increases, the capsules collapse, forming a lens-like half sphere. When that pressure is removed, the capsules pop back into their spherical shape.&nbsp;<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1712910643712-ezgif-6-525a83ddd2.gif" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">When pressure is removed from the fluid, the capsules pop back into their spherical shape. (Credit: Adel Djellouli/Harvard SEAS)That transition changes many of the liquid’s properties, including its viscosity and opacity. Those properties can be tuned by changing the number, thickness and size of the capsules in the liquid. &nbsp;The researchers demonstrated the programmability of the liquid by loading the metafluid into a hydraulic robotic gripper and having the gripper pick up a glass bottle, an egg and a blueberry. In a traditional hydraulic system powered by simple air or water, the robot would need some kind of sensing or external control to be able to adjust its grip and pick up all three objects without crushing them.&nbsp;But with the metafluid, no sensing is needed. The liquid itself responds to different pressures, changing its compliance to adjust the force of the gripper to be able to pick up a heavy bottle, a delicate egg and a small blueberry, with no additional programming.&nbsp;“We show that we can use this fluid to endow intelligence into a simple robot,” said Djellouli.The team also demonstrated a fluidic logic gate that can be reprogrammed by changing the metafluid.The metafluid also changes its optical properties when exposed to changing pressures.&nbsp;<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1712910829305-ezgif-6-15470cf979.gif" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Metafluid over the Harvard logo. (Credit: Adel Djellouli/Harvard SEAS)When the capsules are round, they scatter light, making the liquid opaque, much like air bubbles make aerated water appear white. But when pressure is applied and the capsules collapse, they act like microlenses, focusing light and making the liquid transparent. &nbsp;These optical properties could be used for a range of applications, such as e-inks that change color based on pressure.&nbsp;The researchers also showed that when the capsules are spherical, the metafluid behaves like a Newtonian fluid, meaning its viscosity only changes in response to temperature. However, when the capsules are collapsed, the suspension transforms into a non-Newtonian fluid, meaning that its viscosity will change in response to shear &nbsp;force — the greater the shear force, the more fluid it becomes. This is the first metafluid that has been shown to transition between Newtonian and non-Newtonian states.Next, the researchers aim to explore the acoustic and thermodynamic properties of the metafluid.&nbsp;“The application space for these scalable, easy-to-produce metafluids is huge,” said Bertoldi.Harvard’s&nbsp;<a href="https://otd.harvard.edu/" target="_blank">Office of Technology Development</a> has protected the intellectual property associated with this research and is exploring commercialization opportunities.The research was supported in part by the NSF through the Harvard University Materials Research Science and Engineering Center grant number DMR-2011754.&nbsp;It was co-authored by Bert Van Raemdonck, Yang Wang, Yi Yang, Anthony Caillaud, David Weitz, Shmuel Rubinstein and Benjamin Gorissen.

Researchers develop metafluid with programmable response

Intelligent liquid

Our muscles are nature’s perfect actuators — devices that turn energy into motion. For their size, muscle fibers are more powerful and precise than most synthetic actuators. They can even heal from damage and grow stronger with exercise.For these reasons, engineers are exploring ways to power robots with natural muscles. They’ve demonstrated a handful of “biohybrid” robots that use muscle-based actuators to power artificial skeletons that walk, swim, pump, and grip. But for every bot, there’s a very different build, and no general blueprint for how to get the most out of muscles for any given robot design.Now, MIT engineers have developed a spring-like device that could be used as a basic skeleton-like module for almost any muscle-bound bot. The new spring, or “flexure,” is designed to get the most work out of any attached muscle tissues. Like a leg press that’s fit with just the right amount of weight, the device maximizes the amount of movement that a muscle can naturally produce.The researchers found that when they fit a ring of muscle tissue onto the device, much like a rubber band stretched around two posts, the muscle pulled on the spring, reliably and repeatedly, and stretched it five times more, compared with other previous device designs.The team sees the flexure design as a new building block that can be combined with other flexures to build any configuration of artificial skeletons. Engineers can then fit the skeletons with muscle tissues to power their movements.“These flexures are like a skeleton that people can now use to turn muscle actuation into multiple degrees of freedom of motion in a very predictable way,” says Ritu Raman, the Brit and Alex d'Arbeloff Career Development Professor in Engineering Design at MIT. “We are giving roboticists a new set of rules to make powerful and precise muscle-powered robots that do interesting things.”Raman and her colleagues report the details of the new flexure design in a&nbsp;<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/aisy.202300834" target="_blank">paper appearing today</a> in the journal&nbsp;Advanced Intelligent&nbsp;Systems. The study’s MIT co-authors include Naomi Lynch ’12, SM ’23; undergraduate Tara Sheehan; graduate students Nicolas Castro, Laura Rosado, and Brandon Rios; and professor of mechanical engineering Martin Culpepper.<h2>Muscle pull</h2>When left alone in a petri dish in favorable conditions, muscle tissue will contract on its own but in directions that are not entirely predictable or of much use.“If muscle is not attached to anything, it will move a lot, but with huge variability, where it’s just flailing around in liquid,” Raman says.To get a muscle to work like a mechanical actuator, engineers typically attach a band of muscle tissue between two small, flexible posts. As the muscle band naturally contracts, it can bend the posts and pull them together, producing some movement that would ideally power part of a robotic skeleton. But in these designs, muscles have produced limited movement, mainly because the tissues are so variable in how they contact the posts. Depending on where the muscles are placed on the posts, and how much of the muscle surface is touching the post, the muscles may succeed in pulling the posts together but at other times may wobble around in uncontrollable ways.Raman’s group looked to design a skeleton that focuses and maximizes a muscle’s contractions regardless of exactly where and how it is placed on a skeleton, to generate the most movement in a predictable, reliable way.“The question is: How do we design a skeleton that most efficiently uses the force the muscle&nbsp;is generating?” Raman says.The researchers first considered the multiple directions that a muscle can naturally move. They reasoned that if a muscle is to pull two posts together along a specific direction, the posts should be connected to a spring that only allows them to move in that direction when pulled.“We need a device that is very soft and flexible in one direction, and very stiff in all other directions, so that when a muscle contracts, all that force gets efficiently converted into motion in one direction,” Raman says.<h2>Soft flex</h2>As it turns out, Raman found many such devices in Professor Martin Culpepper’s lab. Culpepper’s group at MIT specializes in the design and fabrication of machine elements such as miniature actuators, bearings, and other mechanisms, that can be built into machines and systems to enable ultraprecise movement, measurement, and control, for a wide variety of applications. Among the group’s precision machined elements are flexures — spring-like devices, often made from parallel beams, that can flex and stretch with nanometer precision.“Depending on how thin and far apart the beams are, you can change how stiff the spring appears to be,” Raman says.She and Culpepper teamed up to design a flexure specifically tailored with a configuration and stiffness to enable muscle tissue to naturally contract and maximally stretch the spring. The team designed the device’s configuration and dimensions based on numerous calculations they carried out to relate a muscle’s natural forces with a flexure’s stiffness and degree of movement.The flexure they ultimately designed is 1/100 the stiffness of muscle tissue itself. The device resembles a miniature, accordion-like structure, the corners of which are pinned to an underlying base by a small post, which sits near a neighboring post that is fit directly onto the base. Raman then wrapped a band of muscle around the two corner posts (the team molded the bands from live muscle fibers that they grew from mouse cells), and measured how close the posts were pulled together as the muscle band contracted.The team found that the flexure’s configuration enabled the muscle band to contract mostly along the direction between the two posts. This focused contraction allowed the muscle to pull the posts much closer together — five times closer — compared with previous muscle actuator designs.“The flexure is a skeleton that we designed to be very soft and flexible in one direction, and very stiff in all other directions,” Raman says. “When the muscle contracts, all the force is converted into movement in that direction. It’s a huge magnification.”The team found they could use the device to precisely measure muscle performance and endurance. When they varied the frequency of muscle contractions (for instance, stimulating the bands to contract once versus four times per second), they observed that the muscles “grew tired” at higher frequencies, and didn’t generate as much pull.“Looking at how quickly our muscles get tired, and how we can exercise them to have high-endurance responses — this is what we can uncover with this platform,” Raman says.The researchers are now adapting and combining flexures to build precise, articulated, and reliable robots, powered by natural muscles.“An example of a robot we are trying to build in the future is a surgical robot that can perform minimally invasive procedures inside the body,” Raman says. “Technically, muscles can power robots of any size, but we are particularly excited in making small robots, as this is where biological actuators excel in terms of strength, efficiency, and adaptability.”

MIT engineers have developed a new spring (shown in Petri dish) that maximizes the work of natural muscles. When living muscle tissue is attached to posts at the corners of the device, the muscle’s contractions pull on the spring, forming an effective, natural actuator. The spring can serve as a “skeleton” for future muscle-powered robots. Image: Felice Frankel

New modular, spring-like devices maximize the work of live muscle fibers so they can be harnessed to power biohybrid bots.

Engineers design flexible "skeletons" for soft, muscle-powered robots

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Podcast: Novel Fabrics + Robots -- Sustainable One-size-fits-all Fashion Revolution

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What is Robotics? A Comprehensive Guide to its Engineering Principles and Applications

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Introduction

Edge AI Market Analysis and Trends

Healthcare and Medical Applications

Industrial IoT and Manufacturing

Smart Cities and Urban Infrastructure

Retail and Customer Experience

Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

Agriculture and Food Production 

Automotive and Transportation

Generative AI at the Edge

Edge AI Challenges and Real-World Mitigations

The Future of Edge AI

Exploring the Dynamic World of Edge AI Applications Across Industries


2024 State of Edge AI Report

robotics

A pick and place robot in an industrial setup

Understanding the inception, evolution, composition, and types of pick and place robots and their impact on various industrial sectors 

Pick and Place Robots: An In-Depth Guide to Their Functionality and Applications

Surface roughness can be measured with a profilometer

Measuring surface roughness allows metrologists to establish the roughness of a surface for quality control or other purposes. But how exactly is it done?

Measuring Surface Roughness: A Comprehensive Guide

An AI-generated depiction of a modern day chipset

Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the distinct capabilities and applications of TPUs and GPUs is crucial for developers and researchers aiming to navigate the complex and rapidly changing terrain of artificial intelligence.

TPU vs GPU in AI: A Comprehensive Guide to Their Roles and Impact on Artificial Intelligence

Optimizing Operational Excellence: Synergies of Human-Machine Interfaces, Motion Control, IIoT, and Robust Power Supply in Industrial Automation

Understanding Industrial Automation: A Comprehensive Guide

Unlocking the Potential of Zener Diodes: A Deep Dive into Principles and Practical Applications

Zener Diode: A Comprehensive Guide to Its Principles and Applications

Microcontrollers and microprocessors are fundamental components in electronics and computing. Both play crucial roles in operating various devices, from smartphones to embedded systems in automobiles and home appliances. This article studies their differences in architecture, performance, and more.

Microcontroller vs Microprocessor: A Comprehensive Guide to Their Differences and Applications

Robotics

2024 State of Edge AI Report

Introduction

1. Edge AI Market Analysis and Trends

2. Healthcare and Medical Applications

3. Industrial IoT and Manufacturing

4. Smart Cities and Urban Infrastructure

5. Retail and Customer Experience

6. Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

7. Agriculture and Food Production

8. Automotive and Transportation

9. Generative AI at the Edge

10. Edge AI Challenges and Real-World Mitigations

11. The Future of Edge AI

What is Robotics? A Comprehensive Guide to its Engineering Principles and Applications

Profiles