Robot jellyfish and droids that can change shape to squeeze through small
holes may not be far away if Japanese researchers can manage to control a new
type of gel. The prototype device is a gel made with the polymer of
2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulphonic acid. The gel deforms in an electric
field. So far the researchers from the University of Tokyo have only
demonstrated some basic controlled deformation of the gel, but eventually the
researchers hope to make robots that are entirely elastic.
Elastic droids
6 May 2000
