Cornell University researchers recently discovered how to power robots by popping popcorn. In their paper Popcorn-Driven Robotic Actuators, Steven Ceron and Kirstin H. Petersen examine how popcorn's unique qualities can power inexpensive robotic devices that grip, expand or change rigidity.
Although these are ultra-simplistic robots, the thought is that a large quantity of them could team up to deliver significant results. The ROI would also be favorable due to the lower cost of the robots and the popcorn kernels. The study is the first to consider the use of popcorn in powering robots.
- The nature of the kernels to expand rapidly, exerting motion and force when heated, means they could potentially power smaller, jumping robots.
- Medical procedures could become less invasive with the use of edible devices that could be triggered from within the body.
- A mix of lighter, popped corn with hard, unpopped granules could replace fluids in soft robots. This arrangement could eliminate the need for air pumps or compressors that add both cost and weight to the design.
Since kernels can't shrink once they've popped, a popcorn-powered mechanism can generally be used only once. The team presented the paper at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation. Petersen hopes it inspires researchers to explore the possibilities of other nontraditional materials.
Image Credit: Cornell Chronicle, Cornell University/http://news.cornell.edu/stories/2018/07/kernel-promise-popcorn-powered-robots