The actuator is a device with controllable deformation capabilities and is considered the “heart” of miniature robots. A research team from Tsinghua University has recently developed a film-like miniature actuator that allows miniature robots to achieve continuous shape changes and “lock” specific action forms, enhancing their adaptability to various environments. The researchers stated that using this actuator and a “building block” design method developed by the team, they have created the world’s smallest and lightest miniature wireless amphibious robot, measuring 9 cm in length and weighing 25 g.
The image shows the miniature wireless amphibious robot in ground movement mode (photo provided by Tsinghua team).
Enabling the robot to perform actions such as walking, running, jumping, flying, and climbing, while also being able to fix any shape at any time, is a key factor for the diversification of robot application scenarios. It is reported that current small-scale actuators under 5 cm typically struggle to achieve both continuous shape changes and configuration locking simultaneously, which severely limits the miniaturization and wireless development of robots with multiple movement modes.
Based on innovative material and structural collaborative design methods, Professor Zhang Yihui’s research group from the School of Aerospace Engineering at Tsinghua University and the National Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics has independently developed miniature actuators as small as a few millimeters, which can serve as “deformable exoskeletons” for integrating sensors, motors, and other functional components, thereby constructing complex robotic systems.
”Making robots small, light, wirelessly controlled, and capable of complex shape switching is very challenging,” said Zhang Yihui. The new actuator has excellent deformation and locking capabilities, allowing for continuous deformation to any state and “locking” the shape through electrical control—something that has been difficult to achieve with previous small-sized actuators. The miniature amphibious robot assembled using this actuator can run and fly, demonstrating agility, with a maximum ground movement speed of up to 1.6 meters per second.
The image shows a mini version of the “Transformers” made up of multiple actuator units (photo provided by Tsinghua team).
Additionally, the team has created a mini version of the “Transformers” that is 4.5 cm tall and weighs only 0.8 g using over 10 actuators.
Zhang Yihui stated that this achievement provides new ideas and pathways for the research and application of miniature robots. In the future, this type of miniature amphibious robot could be applied in scenarios such as equipment fault diagnosis and maintenance, geological and cultural relic exploration, replacing humans in executing various tasks in complex and hazardous environments.
Source: Science Popularization ChinaEditor: Wei XiaoliReviewed by:Wang Ran