Chinese scientists, together with colleagues from the USA, created a unique robot capable of shooting charged objects under the influence of light. The innovation is based on the principle of using light energy to create pressure, which leads to a sudden start of the mechanism, writes SCMP.
A team of researchers, including Professor Wang Hsin from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, developed a small disc-shaped device with a diameter of only 7 mm, able to rise to a height of more than 1.93 meters when exposed to high-efficiency light (for example, a laser) or focused sunlight. The robot uses a graphene-embedded hydrogel that heats up, turning water into steam and causing an explosive expansion that propels the robot upward.
Such a solution could be useful for creating medical robots capable of penetrating deep tissue to collect samples or delivery of stents. In addition, the technology may find applications in space exploration or even in the field of ballistic weapons, although this still requires further research.
Research shows that natural processes can be a source of inspiration for the creation of new technologies . Wang noted that nature, after billions of years of evolution, offers many solutions to real problems, and this development is another example of such innovation.