FYI : Tube Robot Looks Really Useful

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept and potential applications of a tube robot, with participants expressing interest in its simplicity and utility. The conversation touches on biological principles related to soft robotics, particularly drawing parallels with natural mechanisms found in jellyfish and sea anemones.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express surprise at the simplicity and potential utility of the tube robot, indicating a desire to build one.
  • One participant highlights the biological principle of inserting a thin folded tube without friction, referencing cnidocytes in jellyfish and sea anemones as examples of this mechanism.
  • Another participant mentions the impressive acceleration achieved by nematocysts during deployment, noting the potential for high-speed imaging to capture the deformation process.
  • Links to external resources are provided to illustrate the biological mechanisms and diagrams related to the topic.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the interesting nature of the tube robot and its biological inspirations, but there is no consensus on specific applications or designs, and the discussion remains exploratory.

Contextual Notes

Some claims about biological mechanisms and their implications for robotics are presented without detailed verification or resolution of assumptions regarding their applicability to the tube robot concept.

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TL;DR
I am totally surprised by the simplicity and potential utility of this soft robot.
Perhaps this is old news but that would be self-descriptive. How long has this been around? I want to build one today.


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hutchphd said:
Summary:: I am totally surprised by the simplicity and potential utility of this soft robot.

How long has this been around? I want to build one today.
The principle of inserting a thin folded tube without friction has been around for at least half a billion years.
The nematocysts of jellyfish or sea anemonies are examples. Barbs and toxin on the inside become external after the explosive deployment.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cnidocyte#Structure_and_function

Start your experiments with a bicycle inner tube and compressed air.
 
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Baluncore said:
The principle of inserting a thin folded tube without friction has been around for at least half a billion years.
The nematocysts of jellyfish or sea anemonies are examples. Barbs and toxin on the inside become external after the explosive deployment.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cnidocyte#Structure_and_function

Start your experiments with a bicycle inner tube and compressed air.
"When the trigger is activated, the tubule shaft of the cnidocyst is ejected and, in the case of the penetrant nematocyst, the forcefully ejected tubule penetrates the target organism. This discharge takes a few microseconds, and is able to reach accelerations of about 40,000 g.[1][2] Recent research suggests the process occurs in as little as 700 nanoseconds, thus reaching an acceleration of up to 5,410,000 g.[3]"

OK, kind of off-topic. But, 5,410,000g !
 
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DaveE said:
...thus reaching an acceleration of up to 5,410,000 g.[3]
The deformation would be something to see in a high-speed imaging of that!
 
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"everted"...great word
 

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