3D-printed robots walk out of the printer

Wish to print Your own robot? Why not! We get used to the fact that now, we are able to 3-D print almost anything, but print a robot? MIT Engineers did it!

This technology rocks! Researchers at MIT’s CSAIL  (Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab) have developed a new 3D printing technique that allows fully-functional robots to be created in a single print run. Only You need to add is motor and source of energy (battery) to allow this hexapod robot walk out of the printer.

How is it possible? The technique allows to print solid and liquid parts simultaneously. How it works? The printer is able to deposit a liquid plastic that can be selectively hardened using a focused blast of UV light and – in the same time – another material that remains in a liquid state, that serves as hydraulic fluid. By this way, the process can print a complex shape that contains liquid. What is even more surprising, the 3D printer MIT used, was a typical commercially-available 3D printer.

Using the modified 3D printer the researchers were able to create a six-legged robot insect that could crawl under the power of 12 hydraulic pumps inside it. Every last part of the robot, save for its battery and motor, were created in a single print run.  MIT also used new technology to make soft hand for robots, which was installed on a Baxter robot, produced by Rethink Robotics. Using the liquid-filled fingers, the bot was able to deftly pick up an egg without damaging it.

Don’t You think it is awesome?