Scientists in South Korea have developed a ‘particle-armoured liquid robot’ that mimics the behaviour of living cells.
Of course, we wouldn’t know what they mean by ‘living cell behaviour’ and fortunately, they tell us that it’s the ability to deform, recover shape, and move freely on various surfaces.
For example, the robot can recover its shape even after high impact drops without breaking. Kind of like how droplets of water behave.
The liquid robot is expected to have significant biomedical applications, including targeted drug delivery and therapeutic interventions, as well as potential uses in complex machinery and disaster zones.
On the last point, the researchers say, “…due to its ability to pass through extremely narrow spaces, it could be deployed in large numbers inside complex machinery, between obstacles in rugged terrain, and in disaster zones to conduct exploration, cleaning, chemical-based obstacle removal, and nutrient supply operations.”
The project was led by Professors Ho-Young Kim, Jeong-Yun Sun, and Keunhwan Park, with findings published in the journal Science Advances.
The liquid robot has been compared to the T-1000 character from ‘Terminator 2,’ capable of passing through barriers and merging with other liquid robots, highlighting its advanced capabilities.
They are not exaggerating either. The liquid robot can pass through metal bars, capture and transport foreign substances and merge with other liquid robots.
With AI improving like it is and these liquid robots being developed, it seems it’s only a matter of time till we live out the Terminator movie reality.
Researchers plan to enhance the liquid robot’s capabilities for broader applications, indicating ongoing advancements in soft robotics technology.
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