From Velcro to syringes, camouflage and aerodynamic trains, the animal kingdom has long inspired human invention.
That said, there are few machines that truly capture the efficiency of bird or beast, or the natural advantages they possess in locomotion, flexibility, and control.
But AIBN researchers say it is possible to mimic these biomechanical qualities for our benefit using a simple 3D printer. And they have a new set of instructions to show you how.
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Sign up todayInspired by mammalian movement, Dr Ruirui Qiao and her research team at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) have developed a new 3D printing toolkit that produces shape-shifting liquid metal robotics with musculoskeletal qualities.
By integrating ‘soft’ spherical liquid metal nanoparticles and ‘rigid’ rod-like gallium-based nanorods into 3D printing technology, Dr Qiao says her nanobiotechnology team can make devices and components that possess superior fluidity and strength for high-precision grippers and bioinspired motors.
Dr Qiao says these traits will be crucial to the next generation of rehabilitation medical devices.
“We’re seeing more and more manufacturers drawing inspiration from the locomotion mechanisms of soft-bodied creatures in nature,” Dr Qiao says.
“That’s because machines that take on animal characteristics are capable of smooth and complex motion for things like high-precision grippers, bioinspired motors, and hand rehabilitation devices.
“Making hybrid structures, however, is very challenging due to limitations in material selection, not to mention the complex, multi-step processes involved in traditional manufacturing methods.
“What we’ve been examining is a new method to mimic animal physiology by using a quick and simple manufacturing process.”
In the journal Advanced Materials, Dr Qiao and her AIBN colleagues present their new toolkit and single-step direct printing method to make these hybrid soft-rigid machines with minimal human intervention.
In the journal Advanced Materials, Dr Qiao and her AIBN colleagues present their new toolkit and single-step direct 3D printing method to make hybrid soft-rigid machines.
The tuneable gallium-polymer composite used in the group’s 3D printing process combines soft and rigid liquid metal nanoparticles to replicate the interconnected network of bone and muscle that give animals an advantage in efficiency and strength.
Similarly to Dr Qiao’s previous work in the liquid metal space, these new creations are capable of taking and holding different shapes and functions when exposed to stimuli such as heat and infrared light.
With the ease of fabrication and wide applicability, Dr Qiao says the soft-rigid polymer composite has the potential to revolutionise the field of hybrid soft materials and therefore accelerate innovations in soft robotics.
“Nevertheless, continued efforts should prioritise advancing 3D printing technologies and design strategies, focusing on increasing the proportion of metal-based nanoparticles within the 3D-printed composite.
“This will further enhance responsive properties, ultimately improving the performance of hybrid soft robots.”
You can read all about this work for yourself here.
The AIBN researchers who contributed to this research include Xumin Huang, Naufal Kabir Ahamed Nasar, Jiangyu Hang, Thomas Quinn, Dr Liwen Zhang, and Professor Tom Davis.
Adding their expertise was Assistant Professor Yiliang Lin of the University of Singapore, and Chenyang Hu, Xuan Pang, and Xuesi Chen of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The Queensland node of the NCRIS-enabled Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF), and the Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis (CMM) - both of which are situated at the AIBN - were also involved.
