The silkworm is one of the most studied insects and GM of the planet. His ability to create silk has been a stimulus for thousands of years, but something that also surprised these creatures is the way they create their cocoons. Mediated Matter Group in the MIT Media Lab has developed a robotic arm that seeks to imitate the "building process", weaving its own structure. The result is more like a spider web, and the robot has some limitations, but nothing prevents you from changing the future of construction.

It is said that the silkworm breeding originated in China about five thousand years. Needless to say, their silk is much appreciated, and represents a very complex industry. But there is no reason to simply admire the silk when these insects. The way they build their cocoons is impressive, and there's no question we could borrow an idea or two of that process. One of the ways preferred by scientists, engineers and researchers to play certain actions of nature is to use robotics, and this is how we find this robotic arm from the MIT Media Lab



The arm is capable of displaying fabric around, although this is not so much like a cocoon, but it bears some resemblance to a spider web, another insect that is not far behind when it comes to extend their networks. The robot seeks to explore the concept of "building additive", in which each part is created by placing a layer of material over another. If this sounds like 3D printing, because the group is responsible for developing Mediated Matter the robot within the MIT Media Lab is also investigating different methods of 3D printing.

We should mention that while the development demonstrates a significant advance for a three weeks, the robot is "cheating". Why? Leaving aside the fact that they can create their own silk, the robot knows the exact position of each of the "hooks" where you put your fabric, so it has been "pre-Preprogrammed". However, in the future it is expected that the robot is able to detect hooks and other anchor points on their own, creating a dynamic and personalized design. At the same time seek to use a type of nylon that alters their properties according to the humidity. With sufficient development, this could change some of the rules of construction, but the final question is always at the hands of future consumers. Would you live inside a cocoon?

China,robot,silkworm,Technology,weave