Dutch experts develop brainless soft robots

According to a report by EFE on May 8th, in order to present realistic movements, robots are becoming increasingly complex from a technical perspective. But sometimes only a few tubes, along with air and some physical laws, are needed to enable robots to move autonomously in a coordinated manner.

The Dutch Institute of Atomic and Molecular Physics has created a small soft robot. The reason why it is called a "soft robot" is because of the type of materials it uses, as well as its behavior and movement. Its design inspiration comes from nature and some animals. For example, large cylindrical dolls made of fabric will dance when inflated.

Most robots rely heavily on central processing units to coordinate their actions. Animals coordinate their movements by integrating their nervous system, body mechanics, and interactions with their surrounding environment. Coordination and decentralization enable them to avoid relying on the continuous command of the brain.

Based on these two scenarios, the research team has created one of the fastest and simplest soft robots to date. This type of robot is not equipped with computers, software, and sensors, but relies on its own body and interaction with the environment to move in a coordinated manner.

This research result was published in the British journal Nature. The legs of the robot are composed of curved silicone tubes. In the absence of airflow, the silicone tube will maintain a stable bending posture.

When a stable airflow is introduced, each leg will independently sway and lift. But when several legs come together, their movements quickly synchronize, presenting a rhythmic gait.

The first author of the research report, Alberto Komoretto, pointed out that "order arises from chaos. No code or instructions are needed now. When the legs spontaneously synchronize, the robot takes off.

The principle is the same as the synchronous luminescence of fireflies or the synchronous beating of heart cells: complex collective movements stem from simple interactions.

The motion of the robot is driven by feedback loops between pressure, crease formation, and pipeline resistance, similar to mechanical heartbeats, which physically connect multiple limbs together.

In addition, this is also a robot with extremely fast movement speed. With the introduction of airflow, its speed can reach 30 body lengths per second.

The synchronization between robot legs can adapt to changes in the environment on their own. When the robot moves from land to water, its gait automatically transitions from jumping mode to freestyle mode.

The researchers pointed out that the movement of the robot originates from the close relationship between the body and the environment, so the transition of gait does not require a central processor or control logic.

One of the authors of the research report, Manas Shomak, explained that similar decentralized intelligence often appears in biology, such as starfish. Starfish can use local feedback and body dynamics, rather than the "central brain," to coordinate the movements of hundreds of tube feet.

From smart pills to space technology, this soft robot has a wide range of applications in the future. The Dutch Institute of Atomic and Molecular Physics stated in a statement that safe microrobots without microelectronic devices can be swallowed and release drugs upon autonomously reaching the target tissue.