Page 57 - Plastics News November 2016

TECHNOLOGY

International engineering team develop self-powered mobile polymers

An international group involving Inha University, spirals when exposed to UV light. Controlling the exposure
University of Pittsburgh and the Air Force Research enables a corresponding motion without the use of
Laboratory has built upon their previous research and external power sources attached directly to the polymer
IDENTIled new materials that directly convert ultraviolet itself. "Complex robotic designs result in additional weight
light into motion without the need for electronics or in the form of batteries, limb-like structures or wheels,
other traditional methods. One of the impediments to which are incompatible with the notion of a soft or
developing miniaturized, "squishy" robots is the need for squishy robot," Dr. Wie said. "In our design, the material
itself is the machine, without the need for any additional
an internal moving parts or mechanisms that would increase the
power weight and thereby limit motility and effectiveness." In
source that addition to simple forward movement, Dr. White and the
overcomes collaborative team were able to make the polymers climb
the power- a glass slide at a 15-degree angle. While the ?at polymer
to-weight strips are small -- approximately 15mm long and 1.25mm
ratio for wide -- they can move at several millimeters per second
efficient propelled by light. The movement can be perpetual, as
movement. long as the material remains illuminated. "The ability for
The group THESE