This Bug-like Bot Moves by Combustion

Researchers at  ‪@Cornell‬ University have built a soft insect-size robot that uses explosions to move.

Methane and oxygen are mixed in a combustion chamber. When they ignite, the chamber expands, and the robot walks, runs, and jumps.This combustion actuator can fire over a hundred times every second, and the robot can lift 22 times its body weight and jump over half a meter high.

Next the researchers want to make robotic muscles out of thousands of these actuators all working together.

Read the full story: spectrum.ieee.org/explosive-robot-insect
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