Scientists have developed a new snake like robot that can climb obstacles, swim and crawl through rough terrain such as gravel and sand.
The ‘Single Actuator Wave-like robot’ (SAW), developed by engineers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, is created from 3D-printed parts and has a simplistic design,with a single motor and no internal spine. Reseaches say that It has applications in medicine, security and search and rescue.
SAW moves forward or backward in a wave-like motion, similar to a snake and can reach a top speed of 57 centimetres per second. It can climb up through tunnels at a rate of 8 cm per second touching both sides and the waterproof version of the robot can swim at 6 cm a second.
“Researchers all over the world have been trying to create a wave movement for 90 years. We succeeded by finding a simple, unique solution that enables the robot to be built in different sizes for different purposes,” said Dr. David Zarrouk, the scientist behind the robot.
“For example, it can be scaled up for search and rescue and maintenance, or miniaturised to a diameter of one centimetre or less to travel within the human body for medical purposes, such as imaging and biopsies of the digestive system,” he said.
Dr. David Zarrouk, a senior lecturer in the Mechanical Engineering Department and a member of the ABC Robotics Initiative. He is the head of the Bio-inspired and Medical Robotics Lab. He has been working on high performance robots for many years. Zarrouk says that SAW is easy to manufacture, energy efficient, durable and barely requires any maintenance.
“I believe it will be useful for traveling through the intestine for imaging and biopsies, and for infiltrating problematic, complex security areas, such as tunnels, destroyed buildings and pipes,” he said.
