Researchers at Cornell University on Monday unveiled two bio-inspired robots powered by a hydraulic fluid battery. The redox flow battery (RFB) mimics biological processes by releasing electrolytic fluids that generate energy through chemical reactions.
The showcased robots—a modular worm and a jellyfish—were developed by Cornell Engineering labs. Their batteries use “embodied energy,” integrating power sources into the robot’s structure to lower weight and cost.
Innovative Hydraulic Fluid Battery Reduces Robot Weight
Mechanical and aerospace engineering Professor Rob Shepherd explained, “Many robots are hydraulically powered, but we’re the first to use hydraulic fluid as the battery. This cuts the robot’s overall weight, since the battery both powers the system and provides the force for movement.”
Besides enhancing speed and mobility, the battery technology extended the robot jellyfish’s operational time to 90 minutes. The robot builds on technology previously used by the university in a lionfish-inspired robot. When that system debuted in 2019, researchers called its circulating liquid “robot blood,” making the battery akin to a robot heart.
The jellyfish’s RFB includes a tendon that pushes the robot upward when flexed into a bell shape, while relaxing causes it to sink. Video footage shows the robot moving through water with lifelike, jellyfish-like motions.
Modular Design Enables Flexible Worm Movement
The worm, on the other hand, is made of modular segments, resembling those used in larger snake robots. Each segment houses a motor and a tendon actuator that contracts and expands to produce movement.
The researchers point out that moving from water to land posed unique challenges, primarily because underwater robots don’t need a rigid skeleton.
“This mirrors how life evolved on land,” Shepherd explains. “It begins with fish, then progresses to a simple organism supported by the ground. The worm is simple, yet it possesses greater degrees of freedom.”
Read the original article on: Techcrunch
Read more:Man Survives 100 Days with Artificial Titanium Heart in Successful Trial