3D printed smart gel walks underwater and moves objects

Researchers from Rutgers University-New Brunswick created a 3D printed smart gel that can walk underwater, grab objects and move them, when activated by electricity.

The smart gel is a hydrogel, a material that stays solid despite consisting of 70 per cent water. During the 3D printing process, light is projected on a light-sensitive solution that becomes the gel. The hydrogel is then placed in a salty water solution, known as an electrolyte, and two thin wires apply electricity to trigger motion.

In response to the electricity, the hydrogel works like muscles that contract, causing it to bend or change shape. The speed of the movements is controlled by the gel’s dimensions (thin is faster than thick).

The team created a stick figure-like shape of the gel, which they let walk in the water. But, as the video below shows, it is also possible to make a claw that can pick things up, or move an object with a comb-like structure.

The creation could lead to soft robots that mimic sea creatures like the octopus that can walk underwater and bump into things without damaging them. Because of its muscle-like qualities, the hydrogel could also be used for biomedical purposes, like artificial hearts, stomachs and other muscles, as well as devices for diagnosing diseases or detecting drugs.

Photos: Rutgers University-New Brunswick