Engineers have invented an ingenious liquid-metal pump which could make future soft robotics and wearable devices much more portable and agile.
Engineers have invented an ingenious liquid-metal pump which could make future soft robotics and wearable devices much more portable and agile.
The breakthrough, led by the University of Bristol and published in the journal Nature Communications, presents a low-voltage power source with the potential to transform robotic systems in a wide range of applications from robotics legs to haptic gloves used in medical and industrial settings.
The researchers have demonstrated the varied uses of this innovative technique by creating three prototypes including robotic butterfly wings, a colour-changing bracelet, and a haptic fingertip pouch connected to an adjustable wristband which squeezes to simulate natural tactile sensations.
Current technologies are powered by bulky compressors or rigid pumps, which limit mobility and flexibility. The small lightweight soft pump – the size of a pea – is powered by liquid-metal, which converts electrical energy into fluid motion creating an efficient, compact power source for next-generation soft robots and adaptive materials such as medical devices and wearable interfaces for virtual reality.
Read More: University of Bristol
Image: Study lead author Saba Firouznia, Research Associate at the University of Bristol Soft Robotics Lab, holding the robot butterfly in palm of her hand. (Image credit: Saba Firouznia)
