Researchers from Seoul National University and Gachon University in South Korea have unveiled a new class of liquid robots capable of freely deforming, merging with others, and moving through challenging environments. The study appeared in Science Advances, a leading science journal, and in scholarly references it is commonly cited as SciAdv.
At the heart of the design is a liquid core covered by a densely packed shell made from water repellent particles. This arrangement blends the adaptability of the liquid with the strength of the outer layer, enabling the robot to bear heavy loads, recover its shape after distortion, and perform intricate tasks that would challenge traditional rigid machines.
Initially, researchers imagined droplets coated with particles in spherical form, but they later moved to using ice fragments coated with particles, which were frozen and then melted. This ice templating approach resulted in a stronger, more stable robot that could endure harsher conditions.
Such a machine can thread through narrow gaps between metal rods and barriers. It can also be divided into pieces and reassembled, allowing it to capture and relocate objects, while moving on both solid surfaces and through water.
Control analysts use sound waves to steer the device, adjusting speed and direction with precision.
The authors acknowledge inspiration from a fictional liquid metal figure known as the T-1000 in James Cameron’s science fiction cinema.
Earlier work in this field explored smart materials built from many tiny robotic units that can reconfigure in response to external cues.