Hydrogels Can Be 'Exercised' To Grow. Another Step Toward 'Soft' Robots (phys.org) 32
Materials researchers use synthetic hydrogels which mimic the features of human muscles -- they''re strong, soft, full of water, and resistant to fatigue. Now researchers have discovered they mimic human muscles in another way, writes technology_dude:
MIT researchers have found a way to give synthetic hydro gels human muscle characteristics: by taking the hyrdogels "to the gym"... The gym workout basically consisted of repeatedly stretching the material while in a water bath, [which] causes nanofibers to align "to produce a strong, soft, and hydrated material that resists breakdown or fatigue over thousands of repetitive movements," Phys.org reports.
The hydrogels can also be 3D-printed into different shapes, and the researchers believe the materials could one day be used for sensitive biomedical implants like heart valves, cartilage replacements, and spinal disks -- and for "soft robots."
The hydrogels can also be 3D-printed into different shapes, and the researchers believe the materials could one day be used for sensitive biomedical implants like heart valves, cartilage replacements, and spinal disks -- and for "soft robots."
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You're gonna need more than one hydrogel for that.
I'm sure if you invent a synthetic Santorum you'll get a Nobel Prize.
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But then if you drove while it rained your tires would swell up and potentially rub causing it to shred to pieces. I don't see that being a good use. Plus probably be like 100k per wheel...
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Exactly. Also the pruning may lead to a less than smooth ride. Not to mention what would happen to a tire that freezes.
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I would assume shattering into razor blade chunks all over the road putting others in danger also at the first bump
Dammit (Score:3)
I paid for a gym membership, but now all the equipment is always tied up by those damn soft robots.
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... two ... banshees ... develop ... A difficult ... hydrogel
Oh, so you did read the story?
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They just soak up water.
Aligning seems to be the trick, though, not the change in volume.
And "thousands of movements" is really not a lot. That means they are broken after a day, or even less.
Thousands of movements, that's more work than most of the humans around here manage!
I, For One, Welcome (Score:3)
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I vote CowboyNeal for Hydrogel Ambassador, but time will tell if he can last for thousands of movements.
I predict.. (Score:2)
...that once again, porn will be the first to leverage this technology into the future.
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Sounds reasonable. Sex is one of the few prime biological imperatives.
It must be said... (Score:2)
So we can foresee a time in the not-too-distant future when Donald Trump will no longer be the world's biggest prick.
Thousands of repetitive movements? (Score:2)
That's good news, with this kind of reliability your artificial heart might even last for an hour!