Robots that Behave Like a Material, Why and How
In briefAI summary — tap to read
Dr. Matthew Devlin from UC Santa Barbara explores how researchers design robots that can collectively change shape and behave like different materials, drawing parallels to science fiction concepts like the T1000 and nanobots. The talk emphasizes how scientists approach technological challenges, handle failures, and maintain adaptability in their research.
Key takeaways
- Collective robot systems can be engineered to mimic material properties by changing shape and configuration, blending biological inspiration with robotics.
- The development of morphing robot technologies requires researchers to embrace adaptability and learn from both successes and inevitable failures.
- Understanding how to overcome obstacles in research demonstrates valuable problem-solving skills applicable to education, careers, and personal growth.
- Robotics that behave like materials represents an intersection of biology, physics, and engineering that brings science fiction concepts closer to reality.
About Dr Matthew DevlinDr. Matthew Devlin is a professor and researcher at UC Santa Barbara working on collective robotic systems and adaptive technologies.
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Program: Robots that Behave Like a Material, Why and How
Speaker: Dr Matthew Devlin
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When we look to science fiction, there are many examples of impossibly smart materials. The T-1000 from Terminator 2 comes to mind, being able to have a body that can heal and reshape at will. Or, much friendlier, the "nanobots" from Big Hero 6, a large collective of small robots that can create any shape at will.
In real life, embryonic tissue is the closest thing to these fantastical materials. It can change its shape, create complex structures, and even change its internal strength, able to melt and flow like a liquid. In a collaboration of roboticists and embryo physicists, the speaker and his co-authors made a collective of robots that embeds these principles, hopefully representing the first step toward uncovering the physics that could govern these sci-fi robotic materials.
Our speaker, Dr Matthew Devlin, is a mechanical engineer from UC Santa Barbara who has recently published a paper called "Material-like robotic collectives with spatiotemporal control of strength and shape" in the journal Science. A small team made up of robotics engineers and embryo physicists were able to distill some of the key principles of embryonic tissue and demonstrate them in robots. He believes it is a key piece of the puzzle for a Big Hero 6 or Terminator-like robotic material.
Members and guests, please welcome Dr Matt Devlin!
To learn more, go to:
this paper published in the Journal Science:
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ads7942
A news article written by UCSB giving a high-level explanation:
https://news.ucsb.edu/2025/021769/how-get-robot-collective-act-smart-material
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