Japanese designer Hiroshi Sugihara is innovating in 3D printing and robotics with 'Ready to Crawl,' a series of biotechnology robots that move just like real, living creatures. What's even more impressive is that each 3D-printed animal was created with a single print and is powered only by a single motor.
The project to develop the "bio-like robots" introduces prototypes like the TOKAGE and YADOKARI, each of which explores a different kind of movement. The bots inspired by creatures that live in shells and slide, lizards that wriggle and other insect-like critters that scuttle have the potential to create many new possibilities within the world of additive manufacturing, robotics and beyond. Once fully printed, these robots come to life, unlike many designs that require multiple pieces to be created and assembled.
Crawling Printed Robots
Hiroshi Sugihara's 'Ready to Crawl' Robots Were Printed as Single Pieces
Trend Themes
1. Biotechnology Robotics - Digitally fabricated robots that mimic living creatures present opportunities for exploring new applications in biotechnology and robotics.
2. Single-piece 3D Printing - The advancement in single-print 3D technology opens up disruptive innovation possibilities for various industries, such as manufacturing and prototyping.
3. Additive Manufacturing Potential - The use of bio-inspired robots in additive manufacturing holds potential for expanding the capabilities of the technology and its applications in different fields.
Industry Implications
1. Biotechnology - Biotechnology companies can explore the use of bio-inspired robots for research, development, and testing purposes.
2. Robotics - The robotics industry can incorporate the concept of bio-like robots to create more lifelike and efficient robotic systems.
3. Additive Manufacturing - The additive manufacturing industry can harness the potential of single-piece 3D printing for creating complex and functional objects with fewer assembly requirements.