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Forget steel and aluminum. The robots of tomorrow may be able to squish, stretch and squeeze. This is a 3-D printed ionic polymer-metal composite soft robotic hand. Novel robotic devices, part of the emerging field of soft robotics, offer many advances over conventional robots. Soft robots can more easily maneuver in tough spaces.
They can better interact with humans, making them excellent assistants for elderly people. One day they may lead to high-tech artificial muscles: a life-changing innovation for millions of disabled people around the globe.Image credit: Kam K. Leang. University of Utah
