Robots can change directions, speeds and even their colors. But what about changing their shapes? With help from a sculptor's intuition, Yale researchers are on it. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Led by Rebecca Kramer-Bottiglio, assistant professor of mechanical engineering & materials science, researchers developed a robot that can morph to accommodate changes in its path or environment. For instance, if a cylindrical robot finds a rock in its way, the robot can take on the shape of a dumbbell by cinching up its midsection, and pass over the rock. The results of their work were recently published in IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters
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