liquid robot can shape shift on command
graphical abstract of the liquid robot. (photo: screenshot)
edited by qi liming
researchers from china and the u.s. have created a liquid metal robot that can mimic the shape-shifting abilities of actor robert patrick's silvery, morphing killer robot in terminator 2: judgment day.
magnetically actuated miniature machines can perform multi-modal locomotion and programmable deformations.
however, they are either solid magnetic elastomers with limited morphological adaptability, or liquid material systems with low mechanical strength.
inspired by the sea cucumber, the magneto-active phase transitional matter (mptm) is composed of magnetic neodymium-iron-boron micro-particles embedded in liquid metal.
mptms can reversibly switch between solid and liquid phase by heating with alternating magnetic field or through ambient cooling.
similar shape-shifting robots are expected to be used in the future to deliver drugs to specific organs, grab and cart away foreign objects inside the body, or assemble tiny mechanical parts in hard-to-reach spaces.
