- Harvard engineers created robotic muscles using rotary multi-material 3D printing techniques
- Hollow polyurethane tubes filled with air or liquid allow pre-programmed movement
- A spiral actuator unfolds while a gripper curls its fingers around objects
A team of engineers at Harvard has developed a 3D printing technique that allows fully flexible structures to twist, bend or lift as needed, creating what researchers describe as robotic “muscles”.
The method, called rotary multi-material 3D printing, merges several printing methods and enables the simultaneous deposition of multiple materials through a single nozzle that rotates continuously during printing.
This allows precise control over how materials interact, producing hollow tubes that can be pressurized to generate movement in a pre-programmed manner.
This is how the printing method works
The technique uses a strong outer layer of polyurethane to protect an inner gel-like polymer called poloxamer.
Once the print is complete, the inner gel is removed to leave hollow tubes that act as actuators capable of twisting or bending when filled with air or liquid.
The researchers demonstrated the process using a spiral, flower-like actuator that unfolds when inflated and a hand-like gripper capable of curling its fingers around objects.
The die design, rotational speed and material flow are calibrated to determine exactly how the printed structure will move, allowing motion logic to be integrated directly during printing.
Traditional soft robotics requires molding individual components and assembling them layer by layer, a process that is cumbersome and time-consuming.
In contrast, this 3D printing method can produce a complex, functional structure in a single print, with motion logic encoded in the material itself.
The approach has potential implications for industrial-scale production, potentially reducing both the time and cost of creating malleable robotic structures.
The researchers suggest it could accelerate innovation across sectors if successfully scaled, from prosthetics to underwater construction.
But here comes the scary part… these robots could manipulate objects in crowded or industrial environments and cause accidents if they malfunction or behave unpredictably.
Widespread use of such highly adaptable robots in workplaces could also precipitate job losses or even major industrial accidents if not properly controlled.
These scenarios show why some might find the breakthrough’s capabilities a little scary.
While the breakthrough is impressive, the speed and simplicity of this method raises questions about long-term safety and oversight.
There are also concerns about the ethical use of programmable robotic muscles in human-adjacent environments.
Published in Advanced materialsthis technique is now subject to a filed patent, but until it is successfully applied on an industrial scale or in environments where human interaction is involved, its practical effect and potential risks remain uncertain.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews and opinions in your feeds. Be sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can too follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, video unboxings, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp also.
