Researchers have developed a 3D-printed robot called Morphobot that can move on land, in the air and even on uneven terrain. This robot is an example of the possibilities that 3D printing offers in robotics.
Morphobot, officially named Multi-Modal Mobility Morphobot (M4), is a robot that can transform its appendages to perform different functions, including as a wheel, leg, and thruster. This versatility allows the M4 to move in a variety of environments and perform tasks that would be difficult for conventional robots.
The M4’s ability to adapt to different environments could be useful in a range of applications, including search and rescue, space exploration, automated package handling in homes and digital agriculture. Researchers envision that the M4 could be used in disaster scenarios, where it could use its versatility to adapt to different requirements.
The development of the M4 is an important step in 3D-printed robotics. By taking advantage of 3D printing, researchers were able to create a robot with unprecedented versatility and adaptability. The M4 is proof that 3D printing has the potential to push the boundaries of what is possible in robotics.
More details about the robot have been published in the paper “Multi-Modal Mobility Morphobot (M4) with appendage repurposing for locomotion plasticity enhancement“.
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