In relation to duties just like the exploration of unstructured environments, conventional robots could also be stymied by obstacles corresponding to uncrossable gaps. That is the place the FiloBot is available in, because it grows like a self-supporting vine.

Developed by scientists on the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (Italian Institute of Know-how), the FiloBot is ready to develop in direction of mild sources and away from the pull of gravity (though it might even be set as much as do the alternative) not in contrast to the tendrils of a climbing plant.

The gadget has a conical head on the high, an influence supply/base station on the backside, and a stem-like physique in between. That physique will get longer and longer because the robotic grows … however how does it develop?

Properly, the FiloBot is repeatedly pulling a filament of 3D-printing thermoplastic up from a spool in its base station, into its head. That filament passes by way of a heated extruder within the head, which is slowly rotating relative to the physique. On this method, the robotic 3D-prints its personal physique in successive coiled layers of molten plastic, which bond collectively as they cool.

Del Dottore et al., Sci. Robotic. 9, eadi5908 (2024)

That mentioned, the physique is not printed in a uniform vogue. In response to mild sensors, a gyroscope and different head-integrated electronics, the temperature, orientation and deposition pace of the plastic is repeatedly diverse. On this manner, the FiloBot is ready to management the path wherein its physique grows, at all times heading towards the sunshine and away from the bottom.

Del Dottore et al., Sci. Robotic. 9, eadi5908 (2024)

What’s extra, the robotic mechanically winds round vertical helps once they’re current (identical to a vine winds round a trellis), permitting it to place much less time and vitality into rising a powerful physique when power is not wanted. When no adjoining assist surfaces are detected, nevertheless – in different phrases, when the top has reached an open area – the physique is grown stiff and powerful, so it might assist itself.

A paper on the analysis, which was led by Emanuela Del Dottore, was lately printed within the journal Science Robotics. You may see the FiloBot in time-lapse rising motion, within the video under.

Supply: American Affiliation for the Development of Science through EurekAlert