Researchers at Colorado State University have developed a miniature walking robot that can be fully fabricated in a single 3D printing process using both rigid and soft materials. The technology uses flexible soft joints and links to improve robot durability and simplify manufacturing. The robot is powered by a single DC motor and can walk using a lightweight leg mechanism designed through a new numerical modeling approach. By eliminating manual assembly, the system can reduce fabrication time, labor, and production costs for small robotic systems.
Miniature robots are increasingly important for applications such as environmental monitoring, military surveillance, and disaster response, but they are often difficult and expensive to manufacture. Traditional fabrication methods typically require many separate parts and extensive assembly. While previous research has explored compliant or soft robotic joints, few systems have combined both soft joints and soft links within a single mechanism. Colorado State University researchers addressed this challenge by using multimaterial 3D printing to create integrated robotic structures that are easier to fabricate and potentially more reliable over time.
Researchers at Colorado State University developed a centimeter-scale walking robot fabricated entirely through multimaterial 3D printing (MM3P). The process allows both rigid and flexible materials to be printed simultaneously in a single build, enabling the robot’s body, joints, and links to be manufactured as one integrated structure without post-print assembly. This greatly simplifies production and reduces the need for manual labor during prototyping and manufacturing.
The robot incorporates soft joints and compliant links that help distribute forces more effectively throughout the mechanism, potentially improving durability and extending operational life compared to systems that rely only on rigid components or isolated compliant joints. To support the design process, the researchers also developed a three-spring rotational-prismatic-rotational (RPR) numerical model capable of predicting the motion of mechanisms containing soft elements. Experimental testing validated the accuracy of the model, demonstrating that it can effectively approximate the movement of the robot’s flexible leg mechanism. The platform was demonstrated using a functional walking robot actuated by a single DC motor.
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Jianguo Zhao
Anthony Demario
Aly Hoeher
Aly.Hoeher@colostate.edu
970-491-7100