4D-printed robot self-assembles into a tube and rolls up hills

Technology 22 September 2021

By Krista Charles

A conduit shaped 4D-printed robot tin rotation uphill, transportation a load, and navigate an unpredictable landscape.

Wei Feng astatine Tianjin University successful China and his colleagues designed the robot, which is built from a level rectangular expanse of 3D-printed liquid crystal elastomer. When the aboveground this expanse is placed connected is heated supra 160 °C, the expanse self assembles by rolling into a tubular form, taking connected the quality of a portion of hollow, spiralled spaghetti.

This alteration successful signifier implicit clip adds a 4th dimension to the operation process, making this what the researchers telephone a 4D-printed robot.

The …