Insect-Like Robots with Artificial Muscles Can Fit Into Any Space

Most insects can go into tight spaces and squeeze into extremely narrow cracks. In addition, most of them can withstand harsh environments that other animals and humans might not survive.

In a new study, scholars from the University of Pittsburgh were inspired by the skill of insects to fit in almost any space. The innovation included a tiny, insect-like robot that can follow commands to complete certain tasks.

The main goal of this robotic insect development is to carry out assistance in situations that are in a 'hard-to-reach' environment.

Bug-Inspired Robots

(Photo: Egor Kamelev from Pexels)

University of Pittsburgh's Swanson School of Engineering expert and lead author of the study, Junfeng Gao, explained that the mini-robots they developed could be utilized for accessing confined spaces.

Gao said that insect-like robots could help with imaging, structural evaluations, and environmental sampling.

The expert continued that the machines can help in many situations where a targeted confined space is only reachable by bugs and not by humans.

Many common insects such as mantis shrimp, trap-jaw ants, and even fleas exhibit unique movement skills such as jumping, as this conserves their energy compared to crawling. These same movements were programmed to the tiny machines.

The bug-inspired robots are made of polymeric artificial muscles that allow their bodies to maneuver similar to movements of living insects.

Fellow Pittsburgh expert and laboratory manager Ravi Shankar, who co-authored the study, said that their robots' ability replicates how an arrow works with a bow. The machines build up their energies on the artificial muscles right before releasing, which results in an intense amount of burst, EurekAlert reports.

ALSO READ: 7 Surprising Ways Online Games Can Actually Be Good For Your Health

Artificial Muscles Made of Polymer

Many bugs show a wide variety of skills. Some are fond of jumping across long-distanced areas, while others fight other insects and prey through their hidden energies stored and released for the perfect time. In this study, the experts focused on how bugs could move and exert force. The authors constructed a robotic body similar to the tiny natural animals we see in the wild through the artificial muscles.

Initial tests showed that the muscles work slowly, but the researchers developed a way to make this energy build up and release faster for real jumping action. Among the aspects, they focused on is the molecular order and geometry of the bug-like robot.

Manipulating the composite properties of the polymer muscles allows the robot to power up and store a good amount of energy. According to co-author Mohsen Tabrizi, the process draws inspiration from the muscles we can find in the natural world.

The energy's accumulation is accomplished with just a few amounts of electricity that would not even exceed one volt, Tabrizi explained.

The cricket-sized robots have a lightweight structure and movement ability that helps them move from one place to another. Their capacity is limited to plain surfaces and in other varieties such as hard-textured and sandy environments. The robots could also hop a few distances over water with their jumps.

The study was published in the journal Advanced Materials Technologies, titled "Molecularly Directed, Geometrically Latched, Impulsive Actuation Powers Sub-Gram Scale Motility."