The FiloBot robot features a conical head at the top, a power source at the bottom, and notably, a middle body that can extend itself.
(Video: Emanuela Del Dottore).
When tasked with exploring complex environments, traditional robots often encounter obstacles such as gaps they cannot cross or other hindrances. The FiloBot, a climbing robot with the ability to extend towards light sources and avoid gravitational pulls like a vine, is capable of handling such challenges, as reported by New Atlas on January 19. This robot was developed by a team of scientists at the Italian Institute of Technology, led by expert Emanuela Del Dottore. The new research was published in the journal Science Robotics.
The FiloBot consists of a conical head on top, a power source at the bottom, and a trunk-like body in the middle. What sets it apart is that this body can continually grow longer.
To develop, the FiloBot continuously pulls a thermoplastic filament, 3D-printed from a spool at the bottom, up to its head. This filament passes through a hot extruder at the robot’s head. The extruder rotates slowly compared to the robot’s body. In this way, the FiloBot essentially 3D-prints its own body with layers of molten plastic. The plastic layers bond together as they cool.
The FiloBot, capable of extending like a vine.
However, the body is not printed uniformly. The temperature, direction, and speed of the plastic extrusion continuously vary based on light sensors, gyroscopes, and other electronic devices integrated into the robot’s head. This allows the FiloBot to control the direction of its body’s growth, always aiming towards the light and away from the ground.
The FiloBot can also wrap around vertical supports if available (similar to a vine), thus minimizing the time and energy required to develop a sturdy body when unnecessary. However, when no nearby supports are detected, meaning when the robot’s head has reached open space, the robot’s body becomes stiffer and stronger to stand upright on its own.
