Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a light-powered soft robot capable of transporting cargo along established aerial tracks. The robot, which operates autonomously, can climb steep angles up to 80 degrees and carry loads up to 12 times its weight.
Jie Yin, the corresponding author of the study, mentioned, “We’ve previously created soft robots that can move quickly through the water and across solid ground, but wanted to explore a design that can carry objects through the air across open space.” The simplest solution for this was to follow an established track similar to aerial trams observed in mountainous regions, according to Yin.
The soft robots are constructed from ribbon-like liquid crystal elastomers. These are twisted and formed into a loop that is suspended on a track. When exposed to infrared light, parts of the ribbon contract, causing a rolling motion that propels the robot along the track. As Yin describes, “As the ribbon turns, it’s like turning a screw, allowing the soft robot to move along the track – even when carrying cargo up steep angles.”
The study showcased the robot’s capability to navigate various tracks, ranging from the thickness of a human hair to that of a drinking straw. It could also overcome obstacles like knots or bulges. Fangjie Qi, the study’s first author, remarked, “We also showed that it can follow complex routes – it doesn’t have to be a straight line.” This adaptability to navigate complex patterns suggests its potential use in practical applications.
Looking ahead, Yin expressed intentions to explore alternative energy inputs beyond infrared light, such as sunlight. The paper detailing this research, “Aerial Track-Guided Autonomous Soft Ring Robot,” is published in the journal Advanced Science and includes contributions from NC State Ph.D. students Caizhi Zhou, Haitao Qing, and Haoze Sun. The project received support from the National Science Foundation under grant 2329674.
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