Ackerman, Evan. “Metal Spheres Swarm Together to Create Freeform Modular Robots.” IEEE Spectrum: Technology, Engineering, and Science News, 30 Oct. 2020, 02:16 GMT, spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/robotics-hardware/freebots-spheres-swarm-robots.
Article title:
Metal Spheres Swarm Together to Create Freeform Modular Robots
Photo: Chinese University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen
My summary of the article:
A research team led by Tin Lun Lam at the Chinese University of Hong Kong has presented the design of a revolutionary modular robot that solves the challenge with preexisting modular robots – figuring out a reliable way to get the small robots attached to each other without a separate connection system.
FreeBOT is the name of the modular robot that the research team has engineered as a solution to this challenge. FreeBots provides a solution to this challenge by implementing a little robotic vehicle inside each iron sphere. This robotic vehicle is consisted of two motorized wheels, which enables the iron spheres to move freely, and a permanent magnet, which enables the iron spheres to move in conjunction with each other's surface. With the two combined, the iron spheres could move freely around and in conjunction with each others' surfaces, enabling them as a whole to accomplish quite complicated tasks such as climbing stairs.
However, FreeBOTs are not without their setbacks. They are completely remote-controlled without any autonomous or sensory perception abilities. Also, since the robots are within the iron spheres, it is difficult to recharge their powers. Nevertheless, FreeBOTs have the potential to be developed into the ultimate versatile robot.
My response to the article:
The idea of miniature robots captured in iron spheres to perform a collaborative task is very intriguing. It reminded me of 'Microbots', very small robots that appear in the Disney film "Big Hero 6" in which Yokai, the main antagonist of the film, uses to attack by creating giant sculptures with numerous Microbots altogether. In the movie, Yokai is capable of forming sculptures whatever his mind could conceive with the numerous Microbots he has access to. Of course, the 'FreeBOTs' created by the research team at the Chinese University of Hong Kong are certainly not at that level yet. Still, with advances in technology, who knows robots like FreeBOT will one day become the Microbots of the real world?