Shape-Shifting Liquid Metal Robots Are Finally Here


Just like in Terminator
Despite the Terminator franchise's portrayal of liquid metal robots as deadly machines sent back in time to kill important historical figures, the technology is now being developed for practical uses in engineering and medicine. A team from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, led by engineer Chengfeng Pan, has created a shape-shifting robot made from a newly-developed phase-shifting material called "magnetoactive liquid-solid phase transitional matter" (MPTM).

Inspired by sea cucumbers, the robot can easily squeeze through narrow places but then go rigid in seconds using a magnetic field that causes the robot to generate its own heat through induction. This allows for a wide range of capabilities, including jumping over moats, climbing walls, and even capturing foreign objects in a human stomach.

The researchers have also demonstrated industrial uses for the robot, such as crawling into a machine and replacing a missing screw by simply "melting into the threaded screw socket" before solidifying again. This technology is a far cry from the liquid metal robots portrayed in the Terminator films, but it's fascinating to see how quickly researchers are catching up to what was once just wild speculation about the future of robots.

This innovative new technology is not only exciting but also has the potential to revolutionize the way we approach problem solving in various fields including medicine, engineering, and industrial work. The possibilities are endless and it will be exciting to see how this technology develops in the future. With the potential to be used in such practical ways, it's clear that the liquid metal robots of the Terminator franchise are not something we need to fear. John Connor is safe.

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