Scientists create robotic water strider using cutting-edge actuator

Summary:

– Scientists at Washington State University have developed a miniature robotic version of a water strider.
– The robotic insect uses a novel actuator, made of a shape memory alloy, to move across the water’s surface.
– The actuator is able to generate high force and large deformations, allowing the robot to mimic the movement of a water strider.
– This biomimetic robot could potentially be used for environmental monitoring or water quality testing.

Key Details:

– The actuator used in the robotic water strider is made of a shape memory alloy, which can change shape in response to temperature changes.
– The actuator is heated and cooled using electrical current, which causes it to deform and generate motion.
– By controlling the temperature changes, the researchers were able to control the movement of the robot.
– The actuator used in the robot is a breakthrough, as it is able to generate high force and large deformations, surpassing previous actuators used in miniature robots.

Author’s take:

The development of a robotic water strider using a cutting-edge actuator is an exciting advancement in the field of biomimicry. By closely mimicking the movement of a water strider, this miniature robot could potentially be used for various applications, such as environmental monitoring or water quality testing. The use of shape memory alloys in the actuator is particularly impressive, as it allows for high force and large deformations, setting a new benchmark for miniature robot actuators.

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