Robotics scientists at the Italian Institute of Technology in Rome have developed a new type of robot that prints its own body using a built-in 3D printer. The device was called FiloBot. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Science Robotics.
The machine is snake-shaped and has a rotating head. As it rotates, it stretches in the desired direction by increasing the length of its body. There is a tube inside FiloBot that provides plastic raw material for printing. The head of the device is equipped with electronics that respond to external signals. Sensor information is used to control the 3D printer. At the other end of the robot is a block containing the 3D ink supply, pump and power supply.
The researchers suggest that possible uses for their robots include monitoring and even interacting with unstructured (natural) environments or creating autonomous structures. It can also be used to survey terrain to assess the likelihood of avalanches or landslides and to check pollution levels in hard-to-reach areas.
Previously in Japan was created A snake robot that can climb stairs.