One of the remarkable progressions in the field of robotics is the focus on the development of robots with built-in bionic computation, a feature that enables autonomous generation of diverse dynamics, including intricate repetitive patterns and chaos.
Producing robots that can safely assist in disaster-stricken zones is indeed a daunting challenge. This task not only requires constructing durable, resilient robots, but also providing them with advanced control sequences capable of leveraging the physical flexibility of robots to their advantage. Noticeably, this is a field receiving a lot of attention recently, focusing on the utilization of pliable soft materials for developing robots that can collaborate with humans and work efficiently in disaster areas. However, the control of such intricate soft dynamics for practical applications has consistently remained a significant challenge.
Collaboratively, Kyoto University, the University of Tokyo, and Bridgestone Corporation, have developed a unique method for controlling pneumatic artificial muscles - these are soft robotic actuators. The rich dynamics of these drive components can be harnessed as a valuable computational resource.
Traditionally, oscillators were attached externally to robots, producing locomotion and repetitive motion patterns. However, to retain the suppleness of these robots, it has been necessary to eliminate these oscillating devices. To overcome this issue and leverage the full potential of the soft robots, the team led by Nozomi Akashi of KyotoU's Graduate School of Informatics, have innovated a solution.
Kohei Nakajima of the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Information Science and Technology suggests that the pattern-changing bifurcation structures can now be embedded directly into the robotic actuator itself. This pioneering finding indicates that robots can now generate different qualitative patterns that are independent - beyond the learning data, creating the potential for the development of robots capable of more adaptable and flexible movements.
"This could streamline the hardware and software development process, making it more efficient and effective," concluded Akashi. It's a promising leap towards a future where adaptable, soft materials play a crucial role in robotics and automation, opening new avenues for applications in varied sectors.
Disclaimer: The above article was written with the assistance of AI. The original sources can be found on ScienceDaily.
