Shape-Shifting Robots: The Next-Gen of Robots or Manipulators?

Experts predict that shape-shifting robots are the future of the robotics domain

Researchers predict that shape-shifting robots might be the future of robotics. The past couple of years have witnessed numerous several breakthroughs in robotics and automation robots. Another study reveals that robotics researchers and scientists found that the emergence of shape-shifting robots can influence the future of automation and robotics. Advanced developed robots have found all kinds of ways to change their shapes. Such a system is extremely complex, and typically requires a lot of mass and energy to switch to and then maintain the shape that the users would like to. With further development of this concept, the robots can determine the shape themselves, their own movement, and behavior of a soft solid, not by its natural elasticity but through human control on its surface.

Using this concept, scientists could design soft machines with arms made of flexible materials powered by robots embedded in their surfaces. They could also tailor the size and shape of the drug delivery capsule, by coating the surface of nanoparticles in a responsive, active material. This in turn could have a dramatic effect on how a drug interacts with cells in the body. 

To conduct this study, researchers developed theory and simulations that describe a 3D soft solid whose surface experiences active stresses. They found that these active stresses expand the surface of the material, pulling the solid underneath along with it, and causing a complete shape change. They also found that the precise shape adopted by the solid could then be tailored by altering the elastic properties of the material. 

Scientists have commented that in the next stage of its development, which is already underway, they will apply this general principle to design specific robots, such as soft arms or self-swimming robots. But whatever happens, it all seems quite exciting and new!