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New hexagonal electrohydraulic modules enable rapid reconfiguration for diverse robotic applications.
HEXEL modules are new hexagon-shaped robotic components that can be quickly changed into a variety of robots, according to scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS). These electrically powered modules snap together similarly to LEGO, facilitating rapid construction and transformation in accordance with task specifications.
Using hydraulically intensified self-healing electrostatic (HASEL) technology, each HEXEL module has an exoskeleton composed of glass fiber that is lightweight and attached to artificial muscles. Through the use of high voltage to trigger the muscles, this design allows for dramatic form alterations, from narrow to wide configurations.
The study team displayed a variety of skills, such as modules with the ability to jump or crawl through narrow areas. They demonstrated the system's adaptability by connecting many modules to construct larger robots with distinctive motion patterns.
The sustainability of this design approach is highlighted by MPI-IS Ph.D. student Zachary Yoder and visiting researcher Ellen Rumley. HEXEL modules are especially useful in resource-constrained contexts, such space missions or rescue operations, as they enable users to create robots customized to their unique demands, as opposed to manufacturing bespoke robots for every activity.
The research paper, "Hexagonal Electrohydraulic Modules for Rapidly Reconfigurable High-Speed Robots," was already published in Science Robotics on September 18, 2024.
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