For the first time, using slow curing plastic, 3D printed robotic arms now have bones, ligaments, and tendons

Schematic diagram of soft robotic arm. Image source: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich

Science and Technology Daily reporter Zhang Mengran

Researchers from Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich and an American startup have successfully printed a robotic arm for the first time using

the latest laser scanning technology, which contains bones, ligaments, and tendons made of different polymers. This new technology makes it possible

to 3D print special plastics with elasticity in one go, opening up a new path for the production of flexible robot structures. The study was published in the

latest issue of the journal Nature.

3D printing technology used to be limited to fast curing plastics, but now it is also applicable to slow curing plastics. Researchers have used various

high-quality materials to 3D print complex and more durable robotic arms in one go. The new technology used makes it easy to combine the soft and

elastic characteristics with rigid materials. Researchers can use it to create intricate structures and parts with cavities as needed.

This is the first time that scientists have successfully printed a robotic hand in one go using slowly curing thiolene polymers. Thiophene polymers have

excellent elasticity and recover to their original state much faster after bending than polyacrylic esters. In addition, the hardness of thiolene can also be

fine tuned to meet the requirements of flexible robots. Robots made of soft materials have more advantages than traditional metal robots. This is because

their soft bodies pose less risk of harming humans and damaging themselves when working with humans, and they are also more suitable for handling

fragile items.

To adapt to the use of slow curing polymers, the team has added a 3D laser scanner that can instantly inspect each printed layer for surface irregularities.

This feedback mechanism can adjust the material accurately by real-time and precise calculation when printing the next layer, thereby compensating for

material deficiencies precisely.

Editor in Chief Circle

Technology comes from imagination, and imagination is the driving force that propels humanity towards the pinnacle of the species. The degree of freedom

of soft robots is actually an example of putting imagination into reality. It can freely change according to people's needs, with extremely high flexibility and

innate high adaptability. Undoubtedly, a robotic arm with bones, ligaments, and tendons will have a greater safety advantage in interacting with humans,

and will also have great application prospects in biotechnology, disaster relief, and medical fields.

(Source: Science and Technology Daily)

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