Posted on 01/27/2023 5:56:33 AM PST by Red Badger
In a recent breakthrough, scientists have created a robot that can transition back and forth between solid and liquid states, allowing it to navigate through numerous obstacles and environments.
Researchers applied the technology in a few different scenarios. The robot was able to navigate obstacle courses and deliver and retrieve objects to and from a model human stomach. They even constructed a version of the robot that looks like a Lego Minifigure that was able to escape a cage by liquefying and then restoring itself to its original form once out.
VIDEO AT LINK....................
ScienceAlert reported on the experiment, noting that the authors took inspiration from the shapeshifting Sea Cucumber, which can alternate between physical states by adjusting its internal temperature. The experiment, published in Matter, details how microscopic magnetic particles were embedded into liquid metal, and how those particles heated and cooled the metal based on adjusting the magnetic functions, thus changing the physical state.
“The magnetic particles here have two roles,” says Carmel Majidi of Carnegie Mellon University, senior author and mechanical engineer in the experiment. “One is that they make the material responsive to an alternating magnetic field, so you can, through induction, heat up the material and cause the phase change. But the magnetic particles also give the robots mobility and the ability to move in response to the magnetic field.”
Gallium was the perfect metal for this experiment, researchers found, because of its low melting point, which is around 86 degrees Fahrenheit. The authors describe the metal as having “high mechanical strength, high load capacity, and fast locomotion speed in the solid phase with excellent morphological adaptability (elongation, splitting, and merging) in the liquid phase.”
A leader of the study and engineer at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Chengfeng Pan, said, “Giving robots the ability to switch between liquid and solid states endows them with more functionality.”
In another video, researchers show this technology clearing a foreign object from a model human stomach.
“More functionality” means the technology could open up many new possibilities, especially in the mechanical and electrical fields. The robot could enter into spaces and apply fixes in small, tight, or perhaps even dangerous, places. It could even be used as a conductor in circuits.
Majidi, however, suggests that the new robotic technology should be further explored in the biomedical field. While gallium proved to be successful for the experiments, the metal will likely be insufficient for biomedical applications due to its melting point being so low – lower than the ambient temperature of the human body. Though a gallium-based alloy could get the job done, ScienceAlert notes.
“What we’re showing are just one-off demonstrations, proofs of concept, but much more study will be required to delve into how this could actually be used for drug delivery or for removing foreign objects,” Majidi said.
Aliens is the best Bill Paxton movie ever.
Hey Vasquez, someone said aliens, not illegal aliens.
More trivia, Paxton played 1 of 3 the punk rocker hoodlums in the opening scene of the original Terminator where Arnold walks up naked and says “give me your clothes”.
And one of the other punks was the main bad guy in Cobra with Stallone and Brigitte Nielsen…
Paxton was great as Chet in Weird Science too.
Vasquez boyfriend in Aliens was the head of the Bull queers in Shawshank Redemption
The guy your talking about had a recurring role in in X files and also played Buffalo Bob in Joe Dirt
Jewish actress Jenette Goldstein was also the Irish mother in Titanic.
Shawshank is a great movie.
It’s “Dir-te’”
That dude is very recognizable with his jaw/cheeks look.
I didn’t know about Titanic, but I only saw it once with a girl…on her couch…
I knew she was Jewish, that’s why I thought it was funny, being known for a Hispanic butch dyke role…
I’ve seen Aliens more times than I could count…
“I would NOT want any Gallium in my body.”
Probably too late, its probably already in the clot shots.
He was in lots of other things besides those.
You got it. :)
She was also the female vampire in Near Dark.
Don’t try to church it son!
I’ve never even heard of that one before. I’ll check it out even if terrible.
I do like Tangerine Dream though. I think they did the Legend and Risky Business soundtracks.
Of course you know the movie "The Day the Earth Stood Still", and the robot Gort.
What you don't get in the movie is the last line in the original print story "Farewell to the Master".
"You misunderstand," the mighty robot had said. "I am the master."
I guess that didn't fit into the moviemakers' agenda.
The Daily Wire reached out to Robert Patrick and Kristanna Loken for comment, but have not heard back.
Lance Henriksen is asked how old his is, and he replies,"Let's just say I fought for the South" or something close.
I’ve felt just like that robot getting off work some days.
Bishop, Vasquez, and Hudson.
Back when movies were still good…
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