Freaky Light-Controlled Gels Could Be the Real Future of Robotics

There ’s a branch of robotics inquiry that does n’t needs consider that future automatons have to be satisfy with pistons , gears , and motors . make for to closely emulate Mother Nature ’s more squishy creations , these robots would be made wholly from flaccid materials , likeUC Berkeley ’s unexampled hydrogelthat reacts and movement when blasted with a laser .

The material was make by combining man-made elastic protein with one - atom duncish tack of graphene . When blasted with near infrared laser light the graphene plane generate heating which in turn causes the proteins to absorb or resign urine as they get strong and cool .

So the hydrogel finish up working like the cell that allow a plant to move and flex towards lighting , except in a more controlled and prompt manner so the fabric can be used to develop golem that pretend like jellyfish , calamary , and other soft creatures . It ’s nice to get it on that when the inevitable robot coup does fall out , it ’ll at least be cuddly . [ UC BerkeleyviaGizmag ]