The Number one box office movie this weekend was Big Hero 6 which stars an animated inflatable robot.
Google Solve For X had a proposal for inflatable robots
Problem: Actuators in robots are heavy and clunky and limit mobility, dexterity and speed.
Solution: Create materials and actuators that are soft – that act more like muscles and tissues found in nature that can exert tremendous forces while being flexible and low weight.
In 2013 they demonstrated an inflatable robot arm
First inflatable rideable robot
Breakthrough technology that makes this possible: Saul and other researchers utilize differential air pressure within flexible materials in order to create large inflatable robots and actuators unlike anything you’ve seen before.
More at SolveforX.com
Moonshots should involve
* new materials
* new mechanisms
* new design tools
* new control systems
* new destinations
Advantages of Soft versus hard
Soft things can do unique things and can do things just as well or better thans hard things
Inflatable car
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
Known for identifying cutting edge technologies, he is currently a Co-Founder of a startup and fundraiser for high potential early-stage companies. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep technology investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels.
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