Researchers at Rutgers University are inspired by octopuses to develop 3D printed transforming robots

China3D printingNet January 6th, Rutgers University (Rutgers University) researchers created a photosensitive3D printingArtificial “muscles” can change their appearance and shape as needed.
The robotic device is based on a novel hydrogel inspired by adaptive cells in squid, squid and octopus. Once stimulated by light, the elastic material can shrink and change color, which may be used in future consumer electronics or military camouflage.

Howon Lee, the lead author of the research report, said: “Electronic displays are ubiquitous. Despite significant progress, they are based on rigid materials that limit the shapes they can take. Our research supports a new engineering method that uses camouflage. It can be added to soft materials and create flexible color displays.”



The Rutgers team’s new hydrogel is based on discolored cells found in several cephalopods. Filmed by NOAA Okeanos Explorer program.

Inspiration from underwater creatures

Octopuses are similar to chameleons in that they can reversibly change skin color or texture to adapt to their surroundings. For these marine creatures and their cephalopod cousins, this mechanism is either used to communicate or escape predators, but this behavior has also aroused the interest of researchers.
Previous studies have found that the unique ability of octopuses is attributed to thousands of light-reflecting cells that grow naturally on the skin, called chromosomes. Although the mechanism is not fully understood, scientists do know that these cells attach to muscles, and once these muscles are stretched, they open the sacs that contain colored pigments.

Although the color modulation of cephalopods has been tried before, the sensing and activation functions of the replicas are usually performed separately. As a result, these squid-based devices have large, complex control systems that emit the magnetic signals needed to trigger the color-changing mechanism.
The Rutgers team used its light-responsive artificial chromophore (or LAC) to try to overcome this problem by creating a fully integrated adaptive device. To achieve this goal, engineers need to design a novel reactive hydrogel that, once light-cured, will produce a material that can be driven on demand.



The engineer’s device (pictured) has a replica of an octopus sac, which contains black and white dyes, and the octopus sac opens after being exposed to a light source. The picture comes from the journal “Applied Materials and Interface”.


Engineer’s disguise

During the research process, the research team developed a “smart gel” that consists of a polymer loaded with nanoparticles that can convert light into heat and force it to be driven. Using the new material, the team was able to print light-responsive muscles for LAC, which also had “capsules” and a strong external frame.

After the assembly is complete, the device has the ability to sense and activate four different projection modes, and its replication capsule can be opened within two minutes. The response level displayed by LAC also proves that it can carry out complex reactions, and can be adjusted to a setting between “on” and “off”.

Although LAC exhibits high fidelity, connecting the three together does cause a “heat leak” between them. Similarly, the Rutgers team admits that further research can improve the speed, sensitivity, and durability of the device, but they believe that the broader approach is successful.
Although engineers only tested single-color dyes, they couldn’t see why other colors could not be added to the device’s capsule for novel applications in the future. They recommend using brighter colors, making it ideal for printed displays, while terrain-based shadows may provide soldiers with camouflage for the enemy.


3D printingBio-based creation

Although the Rutgers team’s method is unique, they are far from the first researchers, but are based on mechanisms found in nature.3D printingSoft robotic equipment.
Scientists at Cornell University were also inspired by cephalopods and used3D printingReproduced octopus tentacles with lifelike muscle arrangement. Using elastomers as a basis allows the team to create objects with greater design freedom and obtain more complex shapes than before.

At the same time, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology base their robot on warm-blooded mammals, and3D printingThe energy-saving “SlothBot” is created. The device is currently being used over the Atlanta Botanical Garden to monitor animals. , Plants and the environment below.

Elsewhere, another Cornell team took inspiration from a closer place, and3D printingRobot muscles that can “wick sweat”. The device’s soft finger-like actuator allows it to retain water, which can later be used to prevent itself from overheating. Sweat during prolonged use.

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