Origami Robo-Snake Advances Search and Rescue Operations

Danish researchers have created an origami snake-like robot capable of potentially conducting search and rescue missions at disaster sites or exploring other planets in the future. The robot moves using rectilinear locomotion, mimicking the motion of real snakes.

While many envision snakes slithering in an S-shaped pattern, known as serpentine locomotion, this robot demonstrates one of the four common methods of snake movement.

Snake Locomotion in Narrow Spaces

When faced with navigating through narrow spaces, snakes cannot rely on the typical side-to-side swishing motion. Instead, they maintain a straight body posture while sequentially contracting and relaxing muscles along their length, starting from the head to the tail.

Due to the greater flexibility of the snake’s underside skin compared to its sides, the underside skin stretches more during each muscle contraction. Consequently, this causes the underside skin to repeatedly advance forward relative to the sides, gripping against the ground akin to tire treads, and propelling the snake forward.

This method of movement, known as rectilinear locomotion, is employed by the newly developed robotic snake. Crafted at the University of Southern Denmark by a team led by engineering PhD student Burcu Seyidoğlu and Professor Ahmad Rafsanjani.

The robot’s structure comprises interconnected segments crafted from a lightweight composite textile incorporating ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), recognized as the strongest synthetic fiber worldwide. This textile undergoes laser cutting and origami-style folding, followed by heat pressing to mold each segment into a bellows shape.

Propulsion Mechanism of the Robot

The robot’s segments feature semi-air-permeable pouches made from the same textile material, with a silicone hose delivering pulses of air to these pouches. This inflation and deflation process propels the robot forward in a series of movements.

Compared to other snake robots, the Danish prototype is lighter and more cost-effective to build. Its soft and flexible textile body allows it to navigate tight spaces while maintaining a straight path. Researchers are working on integrating the air pump into the robot, improving its speed, and enabling it to turn. They aim to develop an untethered, autonomous version equipped with sensors for various applications, including disaster rescue missions.

To conclude, watch the video below for a demonstration of the robo-snake in action, and read the research published in the journal Device for more details.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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