Princeton and North Carolina State University researchers have developed an unusual caterpillar robot that can split its segments apart and then reassemble itself. These segments can operate independently or merge to form a longer unit, enabling the robot to easily move and steer in any direction.
This was achieved by creating segments that followed the origami Kresling pattern, which allowed each one to twist into a flattened disk and expand back into a cylinder. The motion is what gives the robot its ability to crawl and change direction. If you partially fold a section, the robot. can laterally bend, or by combining small bends, it can change direction as propels itself forward.
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Each segment can be an individual unit, and they can communicate with each other and assemble on command. They can separate easily, and we use magnets to connect them,” said Tuo Zhao, a postdoctoral researcher at Princeton.
