Engineers create 1st robots capable of complex actions without electricity

Engineers have developed an advanced method of transmitting complex instructions to robots without using electricity. This could potentially free up more processing space in the robot’s system for advanced functions.

King’s College London (KCL) researchers developed a novel kind of tiny circuit that communicates through changes in fluid pressure, drawing inspiration from the functioning of the human body.

The method enables robots to carry out tasks independently of conventional electrical systems by transmitting a series of commands using a fluid inside the circuit.

According to a statement by the team, this “world first opens up the possibility of a new generation of robots, whose bodies could operate independently of their built-in control centre, with this space potentially being used instead for more complex AI-powered software.”

Soft valve innovation

Soft robots, known for their flexibility and safety, have become useful in various applications, such as wearable devices and manipulators. Typically, these robots are controlled by traditional systems using solenoid valves, regulators, and pumps, which limits their mobility and miniaturization.

To address this, scientists are exploring new designs for soft valves and pumps, which can be integrated into the robot’s body, improving efficiency and allowing use in harsh environments. These soft valves, which control fluid flow by bending tubes, reduce the need for many control inputs.

Some designs can remember or forget previous states, and others can create oscillators that work like a clock, enabling robots to perform tasks like swimming and climbing. However, certain approaches still require many valves and extra pressure regulation to fine-tune their operations.

“Software has advanced rapidly in recent years, but hardware has not kept up. By creating a hardware system independent from the software running it, we can offload a lot of the computational load onto the hardware, in the same way your brain doesn’t need to tell your heart to beat,” said Antonio Forte, Senior Lecturer in Engineering at King’s College London and senior author of the study, in a statement .

Pressure-based control

Robots now depend entirely on electricity and computer chips to operate. A robotic “brain” composed of algorithms and software translates commands to the robot’s body through encoders, which then carry out actions.

In soft robotics, where devices like robotic muscles are made from flexible materials, this reliance on hard electronic components creates challenges. Complex tasks, such as grabbing a door handle, put extra strain on the software, as the soft materials require intricate encoding.

In order to solve this, scientists created a reversible circuit that incorporates an adjustable valve into the robot’s hardware. This valve uses pressure signals, which are akin to binary code, to control movements, much like a transistor in conventional circuits.

Because of this, robots can perform intricate movements without the use of electricity or a centralized control system. Compared to the current fluid-based circuits, the pressure-based approach provides more flexibility and control.

The novel circuit transfers control from software to hardware, reducing computing load and paving the way for more powerful and adaptable robotic systems in the future.

Scalable pressure solutions

The design could enable robots to function in places where electricity is not practicable, such as radiation-prone sites like Chernobyl or sensitive electrical spaces like MRI rooms. These robots are also intended to be used in low-income areas with spotty access to electricity.

Anticipated challenges in scaling the circuit for larger robots include tethering them to a continuous pressure source. To address this, pressure circuits must be made compatible with low-pressure inputs. “This is actually something we’re already working on, and we have taken big steps towards this aim—we expect to have it published soon,” Mostafa Mousa, a postgraduate researcher at KCL and co-author of the study, told Interesting Engineering.

This technology also has the potential to enhance soft robotics by overcoming current limitations in dexterity. A single robot can perform differently by reconfiguring its core element, the valve that alters signal frequency, without changing any circuit components. The goal is to expand this capability, enabling robots to perform various tasks without modifying actuators or circuits, which would save roboticists time and energy.

The team’s current goal is to scale up their invention for more extensive uses, integrating these circuits into drive-wheeled systems with soft engines or robots that monitor power plants.

The details of the team’s findings were published in the journal Advanced Science .