Researchers at the University of California San Diego have developed a six-legged walking robot that operates entirely without electronic components and is produced in a single 3D printing process. The system relies on a pneumatic control circuit powered by compressed air. The team used commercially available materials and a standard FDM 3D printer. The results have been published in the journal Advanced Intelligent Systems.
The core idea behind the project was to create a low-cost, robust, and fully printable platform capable of functioning in extreme environmental conditions. Instead of motors or sensors, the robot uses soft actuators controlled by a pneumatically driven oscillation system. This system enables cyclical leg movement, with three of the robot’s six legs moving alternately. This provides stable propulsion across various terrains, including sand, artificial turf, and even underwater.
“This is a completely different way of looking at building machines,” said Michael Tolley, a professor in the UC San Diego Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and the paper’s senior author. “These robots are not manufactured with any of the traditional, rigid components researchers typically use,” Tolley said.
The design has already undergone multi-day testing with a connected air pressure source. For mobile applications, the researchers used canisters of compressed gas, allowing the robot to move autonomously. Looking ahead, the team plans to enhance the design with features such as gripping systems. They are also exploring the integration of recyclable materials and internal gas storage systems for future development.
The project was developed in collaboration with BASF as part of the California Research Alliance and was partially funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation.
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