When it comes to robots, we usually think of electronic components including motors, batteries, etc. But engineers at Caltech and ETH Zurich have come up with a swimming robot that doesn't need a motor and power supply. The use of heat-deformable materials allows the use of changes in temperature to change the shape to achieve water-pulling.
(Tian Chen and Osama R. Bilal)
In fact, in recent years, we have seen a variety of straining materials and devices, such as light-activated worms, caterpillars, and a robot inspired by origami.
When cooled, this material will naturally curl. When it warms, it will straighten again.
When heated, these self-healing elements that react differently to light and heat, distorting smart materials, can stretch their bodies. Thanks to a temperature-sensitive polymer, the new invention can also be driven by heat. .
The team used several ribbon-shaped polymer materials and demonstrated their reaction at different temperatures.
If used for a robot, it can also be connected to a paddle. After each 'warming up', the expanded polymer material can push the robot forward one step, without any need for any motor or battery to drive.
