AssetID: 54930557
Headline: Twinkle Trunk! Researchers Create Elephant Robot That Can Bowl
Caption: Twinkle Trunk! Researchers Create Elephant Robot That Can Bowl. Researchers at EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) have created a robot elephant that can go ten pin bowling. The twinkle-trunked bot does have a vital purpose - showing how 3D-printing can be utilised to create muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones moving in concert. The team has developed an innovative programmable lattice made from simple foam material. Each lattice is made up of individual ‘cells’ that can be configured in more than a million ways – and potentially combined into infinite geometric variations. They tested these advances in various ways - including sending the elephant to a bowling alley. The breakthrough lies in how the researchers can ‘programme’ the geometry of each cell in two dimensions: shape and position. The team uses two main cell types – the body-centred cubic (BCC) cell and the X-cube – each with different mechanical characteristics. Rather than being limited to these two configurations, the CREATE team has developed a method to create hybrid cells with shapes that blend anywhere between BCC and X-cube allowing for smooth transitions across a robotic limb, much like in real muscle and bone. A cube with just four overlapping cells can yield around four million configurations, while five superimposed cells can produce more than 75 million. With the flexibility to embed sensors, waterproof materials and further functionality, the lattice technique could open the door to a new generation of adaptable, intelligent robots.
Keywords: Science & Technology,Researchers,create,elephant,robot,bowling,EPFL,École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne,twinkle-trunked,bot,purpose,3D-printing,innovative,programmable,lattice,foam,material,cells,breakthrough,shape,position,body-centred cubic,BCC,X-cube,mechanical,CREATE team,waterproof
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