来自Cornell University，纽约伊萨卡（Ithaca），已经开发了一种3D打印的软机器人肌肉，能够通过出汗控制其内部温度。
Using hydrogel-based composite resins and stereolithography (SLA), soft, fingerlike actuators were produced that can retain water and respond to temperature. According to Robert Shepherd, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, this bioinspired form of thermal management could enable untethered robots to operate for longer periods of time.
“Sweating takes advantage of evaporated water loss to rapidly dissipate heat and can cool below the ambient environmental temperature,” said T.J. Wallin, a research scientist at Facebook Reality Labs, and co-lead author of this study, published inScience Robotics. “So as is often the case, biology provided an excellent guide for us as engineers.”
流汗
As stated by Professor Shepard, who led this project, one of the hurdles for making durable, agile,soft robots由于放热发动机倾向于过热，因此正在管理其内部温度。而且，synthetic materials在软机器人中使用，保持热量，而金属会迅速散发热量。在那里，研究人员试图建立一个不会增加重量或限制软机器人设计的天然冷却系统。
The customized hydrogel-composite resins were used to additively manufacture the finger fluidic elastomer actuators with pores that autonomically open and close in response to thermal fluctuation. The pores dilated at increased temperatures which released water that yields a cooling rate over 600% faster than similar non-sweating devices.
“The best part of this synthetic strategy is that the thermal regulatory performance is based in the material itself,” stated Wallin. “We did not need to have sensors or other components to control the sweating rate. When the local temperature rose above the transition, the pores would simply open and close on their own.”
自冷机器人
经过几次抓紧测试，研究人员发现自主出汗阻止了机器人过热，但它确实使它的表面湿滑。因此，将对水凝胶纹理进行修改。此外，机器人分泌液体的能力也可能导致吸收营养，催化反应和去除污染物的方法。
Shepherd教授补充说：“我认为，使这些更具生物学类似的材料和机器人的未来将依赖于材料组成。”“这提出了在这一领域的多学科研究的重要性的观点，在该领域，实际上没有一个人有所有答案。”
“Autonomic Perspiration in 3-D Printed Hydrogel Actuators“is co-authored by Anand K. Mishra, Thomas J. Wallin, Wenyang Pan, Patricia Xu, Kaiyang Wang, Emmanuel P. Giannelis, Barbara Mazzolai, and Robert F. Shepherd.
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特色图像显示了3D打印的软机器人肌肉，可以通过出汗来调节其温度。通过康奈尔大学剪辑。
