Pangolins are unique creatures, with their hard scales being one of their most fascinating features. Researchers from the Physical Intelligence Department at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart were intrigued by how pangolins can curl up their scale-covered bodies so quickly. They decided to use the animal as a model and develop a robot that mimics this feature. The robot is designed to be soft and flexible, made up of both soft and hard components. It can become a sphere in the blink of an eye, with the additional feature of being able to emit heat when required. The researchers hope that this robot may be used in modern medicine in the future.
The Pangolin-inspired robot
The robot developed by the researchers is no more than two centimeters long and consists of two layers. The first layer is a soft polymer studded with small magnetic particles, while the second layer is made of metal elements arranged in overlapping layers. The robot is made of solid metal components, but it is still soft and flexible, making it ideal for use inside the human body.
When the robot is exposed to a low-frequency magnetic field, it can be rolled up and moved back and forth as required. The metal elements stick out like the pangolin’s scales, without causing any harm to surrounding tissue. Once it is rolled up, the robot can be used to transport particles such as medicines. The vision is that such a small machine will one day travel through our digestive system, for example.
When the robot is exposed to a high-frequency magnetic field, it heats up to over 70° C thanks to the built-in metal. Thermal energy is used in several medical procedures, such as treating thrombosis, stopping bleeding, and removing tumor tissue. The pangolin robot is therefore considered promising for modern medicine. It is rare to find untethered robots that can move freely, even though they are made of hard elements such as metal and can also emit heat.
The robot is expected to reach even the narrowest and most sensitive regions in the body in a minimally invasive and gentle way. It will emit heat as required, making it ideal for medical procedures. Researchers have already demonstrated how they can flexibly steer the robot through animal tissue and artificial organs, and they believe that this invention may revolutionize modern medicine.
The development of a pangolin-inspired robot by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart is poised to transform modern medicine. The robot is small, soft, and flexible, with the ability to curl up into a ball and emit heat when required. It is expected to be used in various medical procedures, including those that require the delivery of medicines or the removal of tumors. The researchers have demonstrated its effectiveness in animal tissue and artificial organs, and they believe that the robot has the potential to reach even the narrowest and most sensitive regions in the body in a minimally invasive and gentle way.
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