| Have you ever thought of a submarine that can move without electricity or fuel? 4D printing It turned out to be a reality. This is a submarine made entirely of plastic, 7.5 centimeters long, capable of paddle forward, transporting cargo, and returning to the base, all without engines, propellants or power supplies.  Combining materials science, computing and engineering, this feat was created by Professor Kristina Shea and the researchers of the California Institute of Technology. How does this submarine move? In fact, it uses the concept of 4D printing, first of all 3D printing The object is pre-programmed to convert the plastic's response to heat into a different shape, which translates into submarine motion. The design of the miniature submarine is a complex thermally activated actuator that relies on interleaving activation of three separate actuator groups. At each set of paddles and a holder fixed to the top, the submarine's 4D print actuator is programmed to adapt to changes in water temperature. In the first stroke: expansion occurs, the actuator moves, and the connected paddle moves The actuators on the second group of paddles are thicker than the paddles in the first group, which means that the actuator's plastic takes longer to heat, expand and stroke. The submarine's swimming process is similar to the way our muscles expand and contract to create movement. However, currently, each submarine can only perform one stroke/action on each actuator. If it is necessary to move several times, the submarine needs to be reset. Ultimately, the team will be able to create a complex series of multiple 4D print drivers to enable further submarine activity in the water. The researchers also hope to expand the scope of the study to respond to other environmental factors (such as water salinity or acidity) Also included. Source: Antarctic Bear 3D Printing |
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