Researchers led by have demonstrated a small beetle-inspired robot that walks, turns and grips objects using artificial muscles. A user sends four commands by bending a finger wearing a stretchable sensor patch.
The robot's onboard camera and gripper pressure sensor send information back to the user. The team demonstrated obstacle avoidance, approaching an object, gripping it and carrying it. The muscles use a heated liquid crystal elastomer that contracts to create motion.
The person chooses the next action: this is remote control with feedback, not autonomous navigation or retrieval. says actuation speed, energy efficiency and power supply still need improvement, along with testing in real working environments.
Limits
Human chooses actions; speed, energy efficiency and power supply remain research limits.