A newly designed “transformer” robot with the ability to change shape could one day be used to build habitats in space.
Engineers from North Carolina State University (NC State) have created a plastic cubed structure that can transform into more than 1,000 configurations using only three active motors. In theory, their design — which was largely inspired by the paper-folding art of origami — offers a more efficient way to send assembly structures into space, where the robot could then “transform” to serve various purposes, including carrying a load, according to an NC State statement.
“We think these can be used as deployable, configurable space robots and habitats,” Antonio Di Lallo, co-first author of the study and an NC State postdoctoral researcher, said in the statement. “It’s modular, so you can send it to space flat and assemble it as a shelter or as a habitat, and then disassemble it.”
The team’s transformer bots consist of 36 3D-printed hollow, plastic cubes assembled with rotating hinges. Some of the hinges are fixed with metal pins, while others are activated wirelessly with a motor. The researchers were able to transform the robotic structures into various shapes, ranging from tunnels and bridges to multi-story architectures.
“The question we’re asking is how to achieve a number of versatile shapes with the fewest number of actuators powering the…
Source www.space.com
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