Arabia Weather - Have you ever wondered why robots cannot walk with the same smoothness that humans can achieve? While some robots show the ability to jump and dance efficiently, the difference in movement remains clear, and this difference is due to the difference in bone structures between humans and robots.
Humans have real bones and flexible tissues that connect them together, while robots lack these flexible bones and tissues. Robots have artificial joints and joints that are made of rigid materials such as carbon fibers and metal tubes, which makes their movements less flexible and smooth.
However, a team of researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) and the company Ink Bit have developed an innovative technology to print the endoskeleton of a robot using 3D printing technology. This endoskeleton includes bones, ligaments and tendons similar to those found in the human body, making the robot’s movements smoother. And flexibility, this innovation has a new 3D technology known as vision controlled jetting (VCJ), which enables the creation of internal structures that combine the advantages of rigidity and flexibility in a way that resembles human structures.
In the world of robotics, 3D printed robots are typically produced using fast-curing polyacrylate polymers, which are hard and harden quickly during the printing process. However, researchers point out that these polymers require mechanical flattening of each printed layer, which reduces the level of smoothness, and restricts the range of Materials that can be used.
The difficulties in modifying the different layers during printing indicate that traditional 3D robots are often very inflexible and limited in their shapes and materials. To avoid these challenges, scientists rely on separate manufacturing and assembly steps to create the different robot components and later assemble them, which makes the process time-consuming and difficult. Complicated.
Vision Controlled 3D printing (VCJ) technology offers a solution to these challenges as this technology relies on the use of soft, slow-curing thiolein polymers, which have excellent elastic properties. According to the researchers, these polymers have the ability to restore their original state much faster after bending compared to polyacrylates. Which makes 3D printing a more flexible and efficient experience.
The VCJ 3D printing system offers groundbreaking technology with a 3D laser light scanner that visually inspects each layer during the deposition process. This visual inspection greatly improves printing, as a wide range of polymers can be deposited, including those that provide resistance to UV and moisture.
After scanning, the next layer is printed without the need for mechanical straightening, and all irregularities in the previous layer are compensated during the printing process, improving the accuracy of the final structure. The researchers say that the closed-loop control system allows the entire robot structure to be printed in a single operation, which speeds up Design process, reduces cost.
Through this approach, complex and advanced robotic structures can be efficiently printed, allowing researchers to quickly move from the idea stage to a practical and durable model. In addition, this system avoids the need for expensive tooling and complex assembly processes, making it an important step towards simplifying manufacturing processes. And improve efficiency.
Using 3D printing technology (VCJ), researchers were able to produce a robotic hand that features internal structures similar to those found in human hands. The robotic hand, which contains touch panels and pressure sensors, includes 19 structures that resemble human tendons, and allow the hand to make precise movements. This technology enables Improving the hand's ability to touch, pick up objects, and control finger movements.
In addition to the hand, a robotic heart and a six-legged robot have been printed, along with a metamaterial capable of absorbing vibrations. The researchers suggest that these robots function as hybrid systems that combine flexibility and rigidity, allowing them to outperform traditional robots in terms of design and efficiency.
VCJ technology is an important step towards the future of 3D printing, as it can be used to produce functional parts for robots, medical implants, and many other industries, as prints from this system are characterized by high accuracy and appropriate material properties, making them effective for research and commercial applications.
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