Harvard researchers develop novel 3D printing method for soft robotics — rotational multi-material method creates muscle-like structures that can be programmed to twist, lift, or bend

Harvard researchers have developed a new 3D printing method for soft robotics, allowing for the creation of muscle-like structures that can twist, lift, or bend. The rotational multi-material method combines various materials through a single rotating nozzle to print precise structures. The printed structures, made of durable polyurethane and a gel-like polymer, can be manipulated to act as muscles by pressurizing them with air or fluid. This breakthrough in 3D printing could streamline the production of soft robots by enabling complex, malleable structures to be printed in one go with built-in motion logic. The researchers' work has been published in the Advanced Materials journal and holds the potential to revolutionize the robotics field.