Scientists develop dancing robot that rolls, twists to map cosmos like no one

Researchers at North Carolina State University ( ) have unveiled a groundbreaking soft robot design named twisted ringbots, capable of simultaneous rolling, spinning, and orbital movement. The innovative technology operates without human or computer control, paving the way for soft robotic devices to navigate and map unknown environments efficiently.

The paper detailing this research, titled "Defected Twisted Ring Topology For Autonomous Periodic Flip Spin Orbit Soft Robot," is set to be published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ( )during the week of January 8. Twisted ringbot design and functionality The twisted ringbots are constructed from ribbon like liquid crystal elastomers, resembling a twisted rotini noodle.

The resulting structure exhibits unique behaviors when joined at the ends to form a loop. Placed on a surface with a temperature of at least 55 degrees Celsius (131 degrees Fahrenheit), the robot initiates a rolling motion. The part of the ribbon in contact with the hot surface contracts, propelling the twisted ringbot forward.

The warmer the surface, the faster the rolling motion. , the corresponding author of the paper and associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at North Carolina State University, explains, "The ribbon rolls on its horizontal axis, giving the ring forward momentum." The twisted ringbot doesn't stop at rolling; it also spins along its central axis, akin to a record on a turntable.

While moving forward, it traces an orbital path around a central point, demonstrating a large circular movement. Additionally, when encountering a boundary, such as the wall of a box, the twisted ringbot adheres to the boundary, showcasing a behavior particularly useful for mapping unknown environments.

"This behavior could be particularly useful for mapping unknown environments," says Yin. The twisted ringbot's behavior is governed by physical intelligence, where structural design and materials dictate actions rather than external control. Researchers achieve fine tuned control over the robot's behavior by manipulating its .

Variables such as ribbon width, the number of twists, and other factors allow for control over speed, direction, and other characteristics. In proof of concept testing, twisted ringbots demonstrated the ability to follow the contours of various confined spaces. Fangjie Qi, the paper's first author and a Ph.D.

student at NC State, explains, "Regardless of where the twisted ringbot is introduced to these spaces, it can make its way to a boundary and follow the boundary lines to map the space’s contours." The researchers explored more complex spaces by introducing two twisted ringbots, each rotating in a different direction.

This method enabled them to capture the contours of intricate spaces by comparing the paths of both robots. "In principle, no matter how complex a space is, you would be able to map it if you introduced enough of the twisted ringbots to map the whole picture, each one giving part of it," says Yin.

The relative affordability of producing these soft robots makes this mapping approach viable, offering exciting prospects for applications in various fields. Yin emphasizes, "Soft robotics is still a relatively new field. Finding new ways to control the movement of soft robots in a repeatable, engineered way moves the field forward.

And advancing our understanding of what is possible is exciting." The was supported by The National Science Foundation under grants 2005374 and 2126072..