Batteries have come a long way in recent centuries, but pale in comparison to hydrocarbon fuels when it comes to energy density. When it comes to packing a lot of soup in a light, compact package, hydrocarbons are the way to go. Recently, researchers have begun to take advantage of this, using small robots with liquid fuels. Just like Bending Unit 22, aka Bender Bending Rodriguez, this little robot beetle runs on alcohol.
With friendly name Robeetle, the little ‘bot weighs just 88 milligrams, similar in mass to its insectoid contemporaries. It stores methanol in a polyimide film tank, working up to 2 hours on one fill. As shown in the video, an only mechanical control system is used to activate the legs of the robot. In the neutral state, vents in the fuel tank are open, releasing methanol vapor. This involves nitinol muscle cables covered in a special catalyst that causes the combustion of methanol, heating the wires. The wires then shrink, move the legs, and close the vents. As the wire cools, relax the wires, open the vents and start the cycle again.
While the ‘bot is only capable of walking in one direction, it nevertheless shows the possibilities enabled by driving small devices of energy-dense fuels. Waiting for improved battery technologies to develop is indeed such a bore. We look forward to swarms of such ‘bots exploring disaster areas or performing environmental sampling in the coming years. The scientific paper outlines the research results in detail.
We love little robots at Hackaday; we have also seen a few in the past. Video after the break.
