Engineering and design firm Otherlab, working in collaboration with Meka Robotics and Stanford University, has created this incredible 15-foot-tall inflatable animal called the Ant-Roach.
Made from lightweight inflatable fabric and powered by hydraulics, the Ant-Roach demonstrates "the carrying capacity and high strength-to-weight ratios possible with inflatable structures," says the Otherlab site. With the ability to carry up to 450 kg, the Ant-Roach features "muscles" that are texile-based actuators and its belly comprises manifolds that dispense compressed air. When a signal is sent to a microcontroller on the Ant-Roach, it moves.
As Wired UK points out, a blow-up robot offers the advantage of being cheaper to build and because it is mainly air, the structure will also float -- in fact, the Ant-Roach can walk over water.
Watch the video to see the Ant-Roach in action.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Inflatable Robots
- The use of inflatable materials in robotics offers opportunities for lighter and cheaper robots.
- Textile-based Actuators
- Using textile-based actuators in robotics offers an alternative to traditional methods and opens up new design possibilities.
- Compressed Air Robots
- The use of compressed air as a power source in robots offers advantages in terms of mobility and durability.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Robotics
- The robotics industry can leverage inflatable and textile-based technologies to create lighter, cheaper and more versatile robots.
- Military
- The military industry can explore the use of inflatable and compressed air robots to improve mobility and increase durability in harsh environments.
- Entertainment
- The entertainment industry can utilize inflatable robots for use in performances, theme park attractions, and more due to their safety and versatility.
