{"id":434709,"date":"2023-01-25T16:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-25T15:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/innovationorigins.com\/?post_type=selected&p=434709"},"modified":"2023-01-25T16:30:00","modified_gmt":"2023-01-25T15:30:00","slug":"mini-robot-jumps-40-times-its-own-height","status":"publish","type":"selected","link":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/en\/selected\/mini-robot-jumps-40-times-its-own-height\/","title":{"rendered":"Mini-robot jumps 40 times its own height"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Oxford University researchers have created a mini-robot that jumps 40 times its own height. They did this by taking inspiration from jumping insects. This innovation is a step forward in the development of mini-robots with a wide range of applications. This is reported by the University of Oxford in a press release<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click beetle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Insects are small but can jump phenomenally. In doing so, they reach high speeds and jump several times their own body length. To build the robot, the researchers looked primarily at the click beetle. These beetles can discharge elastic energy stored in their necks in a single bound. They then use this to quickly jump away from a predator. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The energy to do this is behind a kind of locking device, so to speak. Because there is so much elastic energy stored, the entire body of the beetle bends slightly. When the jump is to be made, the locking device comes off and the beetle shoots straight up, making a large jump possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stainless steel beam<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The researchers mimicked these features. They built a mini-robot that can store a large amount of energy and use it at once to make a powerful jump. The robot weighs less than 14 grams, is made with a deformable skeleton and thus mimics the bending of the tor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The skeleton includes a bendable beam made of stainless steel. This beam flexes under the tightening of an artificial muscle made of coiled nylon fibers. This stores elastic energy. This energy is released when the beam strikes a rigid rail. This causes the robot to jump up in its entirety. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n