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Scientists have developed a shapeshifting humanoid robots that can liquefy and reform itself. The robot, created by a team at the University of California, Berkeley, is made of a material that can change its shape when exposed to a magnetic field.
The robots are made of a type of metal called ferrofluid; a type of liquid that contains tiny magnetic particles. When a magnetic field is applied, the particles align and cause the liquid to take on a specific shape. By controlling the strength and direction of the magnetic field, the researchers were able to make the robot move and change shape.
The team was able to make the robot walk, crawl, and even climb a wall. They also showed that it can reform itself into different shapes, such as a ball or a snake.
One of the key advantages of this technology is its ability to adapt to different environments. The robot can change its shape to fit through narrow openings or to grip different objects. Additionally, the robot is able to recover from damage by reforming its shape.
The team plans to continue developing the technology, with the goal of creating robots that can adapt to changing environments and perform a wide range of tasks. This could have applications in fields such as search and rescue, exploration, and various forms of entertainment.
This research is a new step in the field of soft robotics, which uses flexible and compliant materials to create robots that can adapt to their environment. Ferrofluid-based robots could have a wide range of applications, from search and rescue to entertainment. [H/T: ScienceAlert, CREDIT: Wang and Pan et al., Matter, 2023]
