Local researchers develop soft robot that changes its color and shape

When we think of robots, bulky and rigid contraptions come to mind...but there's a variety of other types out there that most people are not aware of.
Local scientists have developed a pair of soft robots that can change their color and shape depending on different temperatures.
Cho Sung-min reports.

Researchers at Seoul National University have recently developed robots that can change their color and shape.
These "soft robots" are designed to help people accomplish a range of tasks widely thought of as impossible for conventional machines.
The heavy and rigid robots we're more familiar with... are used in industries related to transportation and construction.
Soft robots, on the other hand, are used for much more delicate tasks in fields like health, medicine, and manufacturing.
Made of flexible materials, they're designed to emulate motions like those of living creatures.

The robots developed at SNU are made using a special film... and they come in two different shapes -- a flower and a butterfly.
The film is designed to move and change shape in certain ways it detects a change in temperature.
A dye applied to the films changes color depending on how warm or cold it is.
And this is what enables the flower robot to "bloom" and the "butterfly" to flap its wings.

"Some animals and plants have the ability to change their color,... and that is exactly what our robots are intended to mimic. These features could be useful in many tasks in the future."

The research team adds that the new features the robots have will generate data that'll help upgrade the quality of robotic technology and help develop robots that are more advanced.
Cho Sung-min, Arirang News.