Researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and an American startup have successfully printed a robotic arm for the first time using the latest laser scanning technology, which includes bones, ligaments, and tendons made of different polymers. This new technology enables one-time 3D printing of special plastics with elasticity, opening up a new path for the production of flexible robot structures. The study was published in the latest issue of the journal Nature. 3D printing technology was previously limited to fast curing plastics, but now it is also applicable to slow curing plastics. Researchers have used various high-quality materials to print complex and more durable robotic arms in 3D at once. The new technology used makes it easy to combine the soft and elastic characteristics with rigid materials. Researchers can use it as needed to create exquisite structures and parts with cavities. This is the first time scientists have successfully printed a robotic hand in one go using a slowly curing thiol ene polymer. Mercaptene polymers have excellent elasticity, and the rate of recovery to their original state after bending is much faster than polyacrylate. In addition, the hardness of thiols can also be finely tuned to meet the requirements of flexible robots. Robots made of soft materials have more advantages than traditional metal robots. This is due to their soft body, which reduces the risk of harm to humans and self damage when working with humans, making them more suitable for handling fragile items. To adapt to the use of slow curing polymers, the team has added a 3D laser scanner that can instantly check each printed layer for surface irregularities. This feedback mechanism can adjust the material through real-time and accurate calculations when printing the next layer, thereby accurately compensating for material deficiencies. Technology comes from imagination, and imagination is the driving force that drives humanity towards the top of the species. The degree of freedom of a software robot is actually an example of putting imagination into reality. It can freely change according to people's needs, has extremely high flexibility and is inherently highly adaptable. Undoubtedly, a robotic arm with bones, ligaments, and tendons will have a safer advantage in interacting with humans, and will have great application prospects in the fields of bioengineering, disaster relief, and medical treatment. Author: Zhang Mengran (Xinhua News Agency)