Self-assembling Origami Robot is World's First Transformer - Sort Of

Thursday, August 7th, 2014 1:56PM CDT

Category: Media Vault
Posted by: Va'al Views: 20,242

Topic Options: View Discussion · Sign in or Join to reply

Reading the news today, you may come across the creation of the first type of transforming robots on behalf of a team of Harvard scientists - alas, not yet close to the type we're used to, but it's a big step forward in robotics and manufacturing industries nonetheless! Check out below a selection from the press release at EurekAlert!, a video about the robots, and read an article about it here.

Origami robot folds itself up, crawls away
Prototype made almost entirely of printable parts demonstrates crucial capabilities of reconfigurable robots

For years, a team of researchers at MIT and Harvard University has been working on origami robots — reconfigurable robots that would be able to fold themselves into arbitrary shapes.

In the August 7 issue of Science, they report their latest milestone: a robot, made almost entirely from parts produced by a laser cutter, that folds itself up and crawls away as soon as batteries are attached to it.

"The exciting thing here is that you create this device that has computation embedded in the flat, printed version," says Daniela Rus, the Andrew and Erna Viterbi Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT and one of the Science paper's co-authors. "And when these devices lift up from the ground into the third dimension, they do it in a thoughtful way."

Credit(s): EurekAlert, Guardian UK

News Search

Got Transformers News? Let us know here!

Most Recent Transformers News

Twincast / Podcast Episode #379 "PUBG Crawl"

Posted 2 hours ago

Transformers #22, GI Joe #9, Void Rivals, Spawn, Toxic Avenger + more in-stock at Seibertron Store

Posted 1 day ago

Re: Self-assembling Origami Robot is World's First Transformer - Sort Of (1597376)
Posted by Ravage XK on August 7th, 2014 @ 2:16pm CDT

I love the way it slowly and gently folds itself into shape and then flails around like crazy as it moves away.

Re: Self-assembling Origami Robot is World's First Transformer - Sort Of (1597377)
Posted by TulioDude on August 7th, 2014 @ 2:18pm CDT

Fascinatting material that they used.Doesn't look paper but also doesn't look the metal plates we're used.

Re: Self-assembling Origami Robot is World's First Transformer - Sort Of (1597417)
Posted by Megatron Wolf on August 7th, 2014 @ 3:28pm CDT

that is extremely cool but also really scary, this is definitely one of those things that could advance humanity or destroy it outright.

Re: Self-assembling Origami Robot is World's First Transformer - Sort Of (1597433)
Posted by Convoy on August 7th, 2014 @ 3:50pm CDT

I didn't read or see anything that indicates whether it can change back or not. Still cool though. Reminds me of a pop-up book that can turn its own pages and hop around.

Re: Self-assembling Origami Robot is World's First Transformer - Sort Of (1597434)
Posted by Peridot on August 7th, 2014 @ 3:54pm CDT

I thought this was the world's first Transformer.

Re: Self-assembling Origami Robot is World's First Transformer - Sort Of (1597452)
Posted by Blast Cannon on August 7th, 2014 @ 4:54pm CDT

Another step to Skynet.

Re: Self-assembling Origami Robot is World's First Transformer - Sort Of (1597490)
Posted by Ultra Markus on August 7th, 2014 @ 7:53pm CDT

Soon we will have that flying car that folds into a briefcase!!

Re: Self-assembling Origami Robot is World's First Transformer - Sort Of (1597501)
Posted by Stormrider on August 7th, 2014 @ 8:52pm CDT

I am trying to understand it's application. So this helps industries - how?

Re: Self-assembling Origami Robot is World's First Transformer - Sort Of (1597576)
Posted by Ravage XK on August 8th, 2014 @ 1:27am CDT

Stormrider wrote:I am trying to understand it's application. So this helps industries - how?

Clearing printer paper jams!

Re: Self-assembling Origami Robot is World's First Transformer - Sort Of (1597606)
Posted by Mykltron on August 8th, 2014 @ 5:50am CDT

one: a robot, made almost entirely from parts produced by a laser cutter, that folds itself up and crawls away as soon as batteries are attached to it.

That sounds annoying. "Guys! Come look what I've made! Wait, where did it go?"

Re: Self-assembling Origami Robot is World's First Transformer - Sort Of (1597842)
Posted by Stormrider on August 8th, 2014 @ 8:31pm CDT