Morphing Metal is the Future of Soft Robotics, Terminator Genisys here we come
If you have seen Terminator Genisys, then you would be familiar with an object morphing into another shape. Well, now researchers from Cornell University may just make it a reality.
The key is a hybrid material featuring stiff metal and soft, porous rubber foam that combines the best properties of both — stiffness when it’s called for, and elasticity when a change of shape is required. The material also has the ability to self-heal following damage, according to Cornell University.
Cornell University engineering professor Rob Shepherd said:
“It’s sort of like us — we have a skeleton, plus soft muscles and skin.
“Unfortunately, that skeleton limits our ability to change shape — unlike an octopus, which does not have a skeleton.”
The idea involves combining the load-bearing and rigidity capacity of humans with an ability to dramatically change shape, similar to an octopus.
Read more at Vision Times
