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Origami Robots Enter the Fold

A crab-walker made of paper and polystyrene could be used in places where humans cannot easily go.

By Karen Weintraub
Nov 26, 2014 6:00 AMDec 18, 2019 10:02 PM
origami.jpg
Using embedded wires to heat and shrink its initially flat body, the self-folding robot is ready to scuttle away in just minutes. (Credit: Seth Kroll/Wyss Institute)

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At first glance, it looks like a child’s science fair project: a flat, plastic cutout with batteries in the middle. Then it shudders to life. A few joints bend. The midsection rises with a startling jolt. Moments later, it scuttles away.

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