Active plastic silicone robot without batteries

This robot will be a major breakthrough in the field of robot research and manufacturing in the near future.

Octobot is the first 100% self-propelled robot that was successfully built and contains no hardware, battery or electronic chip. It can be moved without connecting to the computer.

The Octobot is simply a device that includes cute hydraulic guides. To move, concentrated hidro peroxide is pumped into two containers in the body of the robot.

The pressure pushes the liquid moving inside the robot to the reaction with the platinum rod causing a gas-producing reaction. The gas generated by the recirculation reaction to the robot legs through a mini chip is called a microfluidic controller.

Octobots are robots that work without batteries.

This process will create the movement of the legs like doing a dance and moving around. 1 milliliter of fuel is enough for the "Octobot" to work for 8 minutes.

"How to create robots like this? You have to do everything yourself" - Ryan Truby, a graduate student at the laboratory of Professor Jennifer Lewis (Harvard University).

The mold and micropfluidic chip developed and built in Professor Robert Wood's laboratory is located right next door.

Octobots are shaped with silicone.

Ink from platinum is introduced through 3D printers.

To successfully assemble this robot, the team lost more than 300 attempts before achieving the desired result.

Microfluidic chips are placed into the mold before the mold is filled with silicone to protect the chip and shape the robot. After using the 3D printer to insert the inks into the silicone, the robot was heated for 4 days for all crevices to fill and release the ink to create airways.

Mold making process.

The "brain" set of Octobot is the microfluidic chip.

Although there are still defects in sensors and control of robot movement, the minimalization of "Octobot" has proved the feasibility of a flexible robot.

The first step is casting.

The Octobot is simply a device that includes cute hydraulic guides.

Next, the 3D printer will inject and shape the ink paths into the silicone block. Platinum ink will help create reaction with the hydrogen peeroxide, another part will be evaporated to create air ducts from the center to the limbs.

Kits used to create "Octobot after more than 300 times failed.

Close up microfluidic chip.

Octobot with transparent, colorless shell.

The color is added to indicate the air paths from the center to the pins.

Luminescent ink.