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Designing Custom Robots in a Matter of Minutes


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A full robot set.

Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory have designed a system called "Interactive Robogami" that lets you design a robot in minutes, and then three-dimensionally print and assembl

Credit: MIT CSAIL

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory have developed Interactive Robogami, a system that lets users quickly design a robot, and then three-dimensionally print and assemble it in as little as four hours.

The system enables designers to determine the robot's movement and shape, a capability that is often separated in design systems.

"What's exciting here is that we've created a tool that allows a casual user to design their own robot by giving them this expert knowledge," says MIT's Adriana Schultz.

Interactive Robogami uses simulations and interactive feedback with algorithms for design composition, enabling users to focus on conceptual design. The system ensures a design is possible, analyzing factors such as speed and stability to guarantee the robot can function.

"This tool enables rapid exploration of dynamic robots at an early stage in the design process," says Disney Research's Moritz Bacher.

From R&D Magazine
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