Scientists use millions of foam lattice combinations to create a robotic elephant with a twisting trunk and jointed limbs.
A new robotics breakthrough could reshape how machines move, adapt, and interact with the world by mimicking biology itself.Engineers at EPFL have developed a programmable foam lattice that blends softness and rigidity across a robot’s body. Inspired by the musculoskeletal system of animals, the new design enables robots to bend, twist, and bear weight with more precision than ever before.
The composite image shows the design, structure, and capabilities of the 3D-printed elephant robot, including trunk dexterity and leg motion. Credit – Science Advances“This approach enables the continuous spatial blending of stiffness profiles and allows for an infinite range of blended unit cells,” said Ph.D. student Benhui Dai. “It’s particularly suited for replicating the structure of muscular organs like an elephant trunk.
Biomimicry Elephant Robot EPFL Foam Lattice Programmable Materials Robotics Soft Robotics
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