It sounds like science fiction: Robots for artificial pollination - can it work?

02-Feb-2023

The development of stimuli-responsive polymers has brought about a wealth of material-related opportunities for next-generation small-scale, wirelessly controlled soft-bodied robots. For some time now, engineers have known how to use these materials to make small robots that can walk, swim and ...

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More sustainable, long-lasting polymer materials could decrease consumption of plastics

12-Oct-2021

Polymer science has made possible rubber tires, Teflon and Kevlar, plastic water bottles, nylon jackets among many other ubiquitous features of daily life. Elastic polymers, known as elastomers, can be stretched and released repeatedly and are used in applications such as gloves and heart valves, ...

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Researchers 'program' liquid crystalline elastomers to replicate complex twisting action simply with the use of light

09-Apr-2020

The twisting and bending capabilities of the human muscle system enable a varied and dynamic range of motion, from walking and running to reaching and grasping. Replicating something as seemingly simple as waving a hand in a robot, however, requires a complex series of motors, pumps, actuators ...

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Connecting the physical hand to the virtual world

21-Mar-2019

Researchers at Saarland University have created an ultrathin flexible film that can act as a sensor for innovative technologies. Integrated within a glove, the new sensory film can communicate the current position of the wearer’s hand and fingers. By establishing a direct connection between the ...

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3D printed tires and shoes that self-repair

07-Feb-2019

Instead of throwing away your broken boots or cracked toys, why not let them fix themselves? Researchers at the University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering have developed 3D-printed rubber materials that can do just that. Assistant Professor Qiming Wang works in the world of ...

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Transforming flat elastomers into 3D shapes

06-Feb-2019

Mechanical systems, such as engines and motors, rely on two principal types of motions of stiff components: linear motion, which involves an object moving from one point to another in a straight line; and rotational motion, which involves an object rotating on an axis. Nature has developed far ...

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16-Aug-2018

By stacking and connecting layers of stretchable circuits on top of one another, engineers have developed an approach to build soft, pliable "3D stretchable electronics" that can pack a lot of functions while staying thin and small in size. As a proof of concept, a team led by the University of ...

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05-Jun-2018

Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) is the best-selling synthetic rubber and for decades, has been indispensable for many applications. In everyday life, SBR is mainly found in vehicle tires. According to a recent market study by Ceresana, worldwide consumption for this elastomer type amounts to about ...

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10-Apr-2018

Gabriel Performance Products announces the acquisition of Royce International. Headquartered in Sarasota, FL, Royce is a custom solutions provider of specialty epoxy resins, diluents, curing agents, and additives. These are sold under the RoyOxy TM trademark into CASE (Coatings, Adhesives, ...

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28-Mar-2018

They might only be made from thin silicon film, but they can squeeze down hard, deliver a powerful thrust, vibrate or hold any required position. And because they can act as sensors, they are becoming important tools in technical applications. Stefan Seelecke and his team at Saarland University ...

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