We’ve been subjects to numerous surprises from iRobot. If you follow the developments in the robotic world, you’d know what I mean by that. At the International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) just recently, iRobot again surprised us with this slimy-little shape shifting robot they have done for DARPA.
Living deftly the ChemBot we’d been hearing of for long, iRobot has managed this as a soft, mobile robot that can maneuver soft terrains with same efficiency as it can navigate through the small openings. DRAPA need this for the military so it has to be up there for all rescue moves. For this shape shifting trait the engineers have stuffed the bot with a jamming technology, which lets the robot transform from a semi-liquid state to solid state with only change in volume.
This jamming technology in place is called “jamming skin enabled locomotion,” – a flexible silicone skin done in a series of pockets with mix of air and loosely packed particles. When air is removed from the pocket, the silicon restricts and seems to solidify, thus when it passes from one pocket to another the robot gains the ability to perform its tasks. Video below to explain that better.
Via: Engadget/Geekologie
