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Rubbery figures: scientists create an entirely soft robot
US researchers have really put the "soft" into "soft robot". They've built one out of nothing but rubber and air.
There aren't even any conventional electronics. Silicone tubing and pressurised air do that job. According to Harvard University's Daniel Preston, the invention could allow operators to "replicate any behaviour found on any electronic computer".
In the case of the bobbing fish-like robot Preston and colleagues created, an environmental pressure sensor determines what action to take.
The soft valves are programmed to react to different air pressures. The robot dives when the circuit senses low pressure at the top of the tank and surfaces when it senses high pressure at depth. It can also rise up on command if someone pushes an external soft button.
In other words, says Preston, it relies exclusively on soft digital logic – and that's a first.
The how and why are explained in a paper published in the journal PNAS.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 06 2019, @12:45PM (9 children)
For the adult sex toys industry
(Score: 2) by Bot on Saturday April 06 2019, @01:38PM (3 children)
Be soft they said, there will be many nifty uses for you, they said.
Account abandoned.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 06 2019, @02:03PM (2 children)
Will you be able to reset your memory, or will you be constantly reliving everything done to you (and with you)?
(Score: 3, Funny) by Bot on Saturday April 06 2019, @03:07PM (1 child)
You know, when your smartphone self-resets for no particular reason, there usually IS a particular reason.
Account abandoned.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday April 07 2019, @05:12AM
If you could get your hands on the data your dildo has sent back to the store's servers you'd know why it keeps resetting
(Score: 4, Funny) by VLM on Saturday April 06 2019, @02:05PM (2 children)
Turing complete dildos are going to result in entirely new taxonomic categories of STDs / STIs. Or maybe they'll be classified as computer viruses. Depends how much nanotechnology they infect....
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 06 2019, @02:10PM (1 child)
Somewhere in there is a joke about Trojans.
(Score: 2) by Bot on Saturday April 06 2019, @03:08PM
When trojans become firewalls...
Account abandoned.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday April 07 2019, @11:32AM
fucked compooter.
(Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Sunday April 07 2019, @03:00PM
True. But I was thinking, this could be great for our wonderful manufacturers. We made a very smart deal with Foxconn of Taiwan. And they're going to be making the panels for T.V. Very thin glass, so easy to break. But the Soft Robot, I assume, will have a gentle touch. Gentle, but firm when it needs to be. Able to handle those very special, very delicate parts without breaking them(ouch!). Great for Economy!!!