Shape shifting gallium based robots

[geordief]

Shiny bright objects are not always what they seem to be.

 

"A shape-shifting robot that looks like a cross between a Lego figure and the T-1000 from Terminator 2 has been filmed melting itself to escape through the bars of a miniature jail cell."

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-64668021

[exchemist]

1 hour ago, geordief said:

Shiny bright objects are not always what they seem to be.

 

"A shape-shifting robot that looks like a cross between a Lego figure and the T-1000 from Terminator 2 has been filmed melting itself to escape through the bars of a miniature jail cell."

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-64668021

Looks like ballocks to me: I don't see how a real robot, i.e. with a microprocessor capable of making decisions and mechanically executing them, survives liquefaction. But here's the abstract of the published paper (have to pay to get the whole thing):

Magnetically actuated miniature machines can perform multimodal locomotion and programmable deformations. However, they are either solid magnetic elastomers with limited morphological adaptability or liquid material systems with low mechanical strength. Here, we report magnetoactive phase transitional matter (MPTM) composed of magnetic neodymium-iron-boron microparticles embedded in liquid metal. MPTMs can reversibly switch between solid and liquid phase by heating with alternating magnetic field or through ambient cooling. In this way, they uniquely combine high mechanical strength (strength, 21.2 MPa; stiffness, 1.98 GPa), high load capacity (able to bear 30 kg), and fast locomotion speed (>1.5 m/s) in the solid phase with excellent morphological adaptability (elongation, splitting, and merging) in the liquid phase. We demonstrate the unique capabilities of MPTMs by showing their dynamic shape reconfigurability by realizing smart soldering machines and universal screws for smart assembly and machines for foreign body removal and drug delivery in a model stomach.

 

Perhaps someone else here can explain what this actually does. The reference to "locomotion speed" is intriguing. 

 

[John Cuthber]

1 hour ago, exchemist said:

strength, 21.2 MPa

Tensile strength of steel is about 600 MPa.
Pure annealed aluminium is about 40 MPa 
Lead is about 17 MPa.
Bamboo is in the range 50 to 150.

This is a robot you could destroy with a wooden sword.

And what they have developed is a robot that would turn into a puddle of molten metal when heated in an induction furnace.

That's exactly the same as any other metal robot.

Headline should say "Researchers develop world's least scary robot".


 

Edited February 18, 2023 by John Cuthber

[exchemist]

1 hour ago, John Cuthber said:

Tensile strength of steel is about 600 MPa.
Pure annealed aluminium is about 40 MPa 
Lead is about 17 MPa.
Bamboo is in the range 50 to 150.

This is a robot you could destroy with a wooden sword.

And what they have developed is a robot that would turn into a puddle of molten metal when heated in an induction furnace.

That's exactly the same as any other metal robot.

Headline should say "Researchers develop world's least scary robot".


 

If it's gallium, it will turn into a puddle on a hot day in summer.

[Lorentz Jr]

Or they could just make a robot that disassembles itself mechanically and then reassembles the parts.

I guess they like T2 more than Iron Man. 🙄

Edited February 24, 2023 by Lorentz Jr