Light-Powered Aerial Soft Robot for Autonomous Cargo Transport [United States]

Author: Lexie Corner | Source: AZoRobotics.com | Read the full article in English

Imagine a robot that can move through the air like a mountain cable car, carrying heavy loads with incredible ease. Researchers at North Carolina State University have created just such a device – a soft, flexible robot made from special elastic materials that can travel along thin tracks while transporting cargo.

The robot's unique design allows it to move using infrared light. When light hits specific parts of the robot, it causes those sections to contract and expand, creating a rolling motion that propels the device forward. This innovative mechanism enables the robot to navigate complex paths, including curved lines, spirals, and even steep slopes up to 80 degrees.

What makes this robot truly remarkable is its strength and adaptability. It can carry loads up to twelve times its own weight and move along tracks as thin as a human hair or as thick as a drinking straw. The researchers are now exploring potential applications and considering how the robot might be adapted to work with different energy sources like sunlight.

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