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'Air Walker': Electronics-Free, Air-Powered Robot

Engineers at the University of California San Diego  have created a four-legged soft robot that doesn’t need any electronics to work; it only needs a constant source of pressurized air for all its functions, including its controls and locomotion systems. The UC San Diego bot is controlled by a lightweight, low-cost system of pneumatic circuits, made up of tubes and soft valves, onboard the robot itself. It can walk on command or in response to signals it senses from the environment. The robot is also equipped with simple mechanical sensors that are little soft bubbles filled with fluid placed at the end of booms protruding from the robot’s body. When the bubbles are depressed, the fluid flips a valve in the robot, which causes it to reverse direction.

Topics:
Automation Motion Control Robotics Sensors

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    Transcript

    00:00:01 this robot doesn't need electronics to be able to walk in fact it doesn't need electronics at all the robot is controlled and powered by pressurized air the movement of its four legs is driven by a series of valves that let pressurized air in and out in specific sequences

    00:00:20 [Music] a custom valve allows the robot to change directions the system is inspired by neural circuits found in nature that generate rhythmic patterns the robot's walking pattern was inspired by the way side neck turtles walk the robot is also equipped with simple sensors so it can detect

    00:00:43 obstacles and reverse course electronics-free robots could be used in environments where electronics are not safe such as mine shafts and could also be used in toys you