San Diego, California – Imagine a robot that can walk without electronics, using only a compressed gas cartridge, right off a 3D-printer. This has been achieved by roboticists at the Bioinspired Robotics Laboratory at the University of California San Diego.

The team used a simple desktop 3D-printer and off-the-shelf printing material. This approach is robust and affordable, with each robot costing about $20 to make. Their work was published in the journal Advanced Intelligent Systems.

These robots can function in environments where electronics fail, such as areas with strong radiation, disaster zones, or space exploration. They can walk for three days with a constant air or gas source and even traverse turf, sand, or underwater using a gas cartridge.

The robots are made of soft, flexible 3D-printing filament, avoiding traditional rigid components. The design includes artificial muscles and a control system, all printed in one go. A six-legged robot was created, capable of walking in a straight line.

A pneumatic oscillating circuit drives the robot’s movement, coordinating its six legs with air pressure. The legs move in four degrees of freedom, allowing steady motion. The team aims to next store gas inside the robots and use recyclable materials.

The project collaborated with BASF to test soft materials for 3D printing. It was partially funded by the National Science Foundation. The robot was first showcased at the 2022 Gordon Research Conference on Robotics.

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