“章魚機器人”開啟軟體機器人新時代

Traditionally, robots have been stiff, *angular entities, made of metal and other rigid materials (think C-3PO in Star Wars). But a team of scientists at Harvard University in the US has managed to build an entirely soft robot – one that draws inspiration from an *octopus.

傳統(tǒng)意義上的機器人堅硬、棱角分明，多由金屬以及其他剛性材料構成(想想《星球大戰(zhàn)》里的C-3PO就知道了)。但受到一只章魚的啟發(fā)，美國哈佛大學的一個科學家團隊制造了一個全軟體機器人。

Described in science journal Nature, the “Octobot” could pave the way for more effective *automatons that could be used in search and rescue, exploration and to more safely interact with humans.

據科學期刊《自然》描述，這種“章魚機器人”為發(fā)明更有效的機器人鋪平了道路，將來能用于研究、救援、探測等方面，和人類互動也更為安全。

“The octobot is a minimal system designed to demonstrate our integrated design and *fabrication strategy,” the study’s authors wrote, “which may serve as a foundation for a new generation of completely soft, autonomous robots.”

“章魚機器人是一個最小化的系統(tǒng)，其設計體現出了我們的整合設計以及制造策略，”該研究的作者寫道，“這或許會為新一代全軟體自動機器人打下基礎。”

Robots built for precise, repetitive movements in a controlled environment don’t do so well on rough *terrains or in unpredictable conditions. And they aren’t especially safe around humans, because they’re made out of hard and heavy parts that could be potentially dangerous to their flesh-and-bone counterparts.

在受控環(huán)境中用于重復性精確運動的機器人在崎嶇地形或不可預測的條件下表現不佳，且對人們而言并非十分安全，因為這些機器人由堅硬沉重的部件組成，對人類的血肉之軀來說或許是個潛在的危險。

So researchers have been working on building soft robots for decades. They’ve taken inspiration from nature, looking to animals from jellyfish to *cockroaches, which are often composed of more *malleable matter.

因此，研究人員們數十年來一直在研究建造軟體機器人。它們從大自然中汲取靈感，借鑒了從水母到蟑螂等由更多可塑性物質組成的動物。

But creating a completely soft robot remains a challenge. Even if engineers build a *silicone body, it’s still a *feat to construct flexible versions of essential internals, such as *circuitry and a source of power.

但創(chuàng)造出一個全軟體機器人依然是個挑戰(zhàn)。即便工程師們建造出了一個硅膠主體，但能制造出有彈性的電路系統(tǒng)以及電源等必要的內在部件依然是一大成功。

“Creating a new class of fully soft, autonomous robots is a grand challenge, because it requires soft *analogues of the control and power hardware currently used,” the study’s authors wrote.

“創(chuàng)造新一級全軟體自動機器人是個巨大的挑戰(zhàn)，因為它需要現有的控制以及電源硬件類似的柔性材料，”該研究的作者寫道。

However, researchers from Harvard University managed to do just that. Octobot’s eight arms move thanks to a system of *inflatable *compartments. The moving parts are connected to a network of channels that send liquid fuel to mix with a *platinum-based catalyst inside reaction chambers. As the fuel *decomposes, it releases pressurized oxygen that inflates chambers, allowing the Octobot’s “tentacles” to move.

然而，哈佛大學的研究人員卻做到了這一點。章魚機器人的八只機械臂由一個充氣腔系統(tǒng)來驅動。這些運動部件與一個管道網絡相連。這個管道網絡能輸送液體燃料，將其與反應室中的以鉑為原料的催化劑混合。隨著燃料的不斷分解，將會釋放出充滿整個反應室的加壓氧氣，讓章魚機器人的“觸手”移動。

The movements are controlled by a series of logic gates – basically a fluid-filled version of a circuit board. The scientists managed to create this complex system using several techniques, including *soft-lithography and 3-D printing.

(章魚機器人)的行動由一系列邏輯門進行控制 —— 基本上就是一個充滿液體的電路板。科學家們設法運用多種技術來創(chuàng)造這一復雜的系統(tǒng)，包括軟光刻技術以及3-D打印技術等等。

Octobot is just the first step toward creating more advanced and capable machines, according to researchers. Its current capabilities are very limited, but designing and building more complex robots will mean integrating several different materials and introducing many new abilities, including more advanced movement, power and control. And despite its current *rudimentary status, octobot shows that this can be done.

研究人員表示，章魚機器人是創(chuàng)造更先進、更有能力的機器的第一步?，F在章魚機器人的能力還十分有限，但設計制造更復雜的機器人將意味著整合多種不同的材料，增加許多新技能，如更先進的運轉、電源以及控制系統(tǒng)。盡管章魚機器人目前還處于初步階段，但它卻展現了做到這一切的可能性。

“Although soft robotics is still in its infancy, it holds great promise for several applications, such as servicing and inspecting machinery, search-and-rescue operations, and exploration,” Barbara Mazzolai and Virgilio Mattoli of the Italian Institute of Technology’s Center for Micro-BioRobotics, wrote in a commentary. “Soft robots might also open up new approaches to improving wellness and quality of life.”

“盡管軟體機器人還在雛形階段，但它在維修檢查機械、搜索救援行動以及勘測等幾種用途上大有可為，”意大利技術研究院微型仿生機器人中心的芭芭拉·瑪祖萊以及維爾吉利奧·馬托蒂在一則評論中寫道。“軟體機器人或許還能開辟改善健康和生活質量的新途徑。”