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Graphene Helps a Robot Creep Like an Inchworm

Posted by timothy on from the whole-new-line-dance-in-the-making dept.

LilaG writes "To develop new materials for robotics, scientists have developed graphene-based actuators that convert electricity into motion. In robots, actuators act like muscles, driving the movement of mechanical arms and fins. Most actuator materials, such as ceramics and conductive polymers, respond slowly, require a lot of power, or provide very little force. To make speedy, strong actuators, Chinese researchers coated graphene paper with the polymer polydiacetylene. Graphene provides a highly conductive, flexible backing for the fragile polymer crystals, which deform in response to electrical current. The actuators can bend 200 times per second and generate more force than most current materials. Using a sheet of the material, the scientists built a simple inchworm robot that arches and relaxes to crawl forward."

13 of 36 comments (clear)

  1. "Robot Creep"? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Dammit, Enough about Romney's personality already!

  2. All I see is by Osgeld · · Score: 4, Interesting

    a CAD drawing and a bunch of ad's, I see nothing built unless someone wants to pony up 35 bucks for a PDF file?

    1. Re:All I see is by busyqth · · Score: 3, Funny

      You expect to just download it and see the details for free?
      It's a journal article, for crying out loud, not a first run, major studio, feature film!

    2. Re:All I see is by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      Since it's a journal article, they can try going to their local university library where they may be able to access it for free. It's not an option for everyone, but people who are interested and have a university library that offers free access to (e)journals should learn to get off their lazy asses to fulfill those interests.

  3. I wonder if it works backwards by NoNonAlphaCharsHere · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I wonder if moving the actuator produces (or modifies) a current. Might make an interesting nano-sized surface gauge.

    1. Re:I wonder if it works backwards by artor3 · · Score: 5, Informative

      From the summary, it sounds like the graphene is just a substrate for run-of-the-mill piezoelectric crystals. If so, then yes, the process should be reversible.

  4. We did something similar in 1999 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It was a Project for my undergrad. We called it ANT5. We used nitinol as actuators, and build our small ant robot. I should test with the new material

  5. Advantage by Hognoxious · · Score: 2

    Is there an advantage over conventional motors, other than it looking a bit more "bio"?

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    1. Re:Advantage by SuricouRaven · · Score: 5, Informative

      Conventional motors require elaborate gearing which occupies space, makes noise and increases maintainance requirements.

  6. This is the future... by Spigot+the+Bear · · Score: 4, Interesting

    ... of robotics and artificial limbs/hearts. No more of this servo/gear nonsense that creates slow, jerky movement. The future is artificial muscle, connected to artificial joints by artificial tendons. We are the templates of the future.

    1. Re:This is the future... by Hentes · · Score: 3, Informative

      This kind of shapeshifting only works on a small scale where you don't need much force. For big, strong robots you can use pneumatics/hydraulics for smooth movement.

  7. Inchworm robot? by rollingcalf · · Score: 2

    Video or didn't happen.

    --
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    There is inferior bacteria on the interior of your posterior.
  8. Re:Why not AFRICAN researchers? by sleiper · · Score: 2

    Ignoring your obvious racist message, developing countries have better things to spend their resources other than an army of robot worms. But scientific research does take place in more relevant fields http://m.scidev.net/en/science-and-innovation-policy/r-d-in-africa/news/south-african-scientists-win-first-obasanjo-science-prize.html