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When a solid cylinder rolls steadily on a rigid surface, the normal force applied by the surface on the cylinder is perpendicular to the tangent at the contact point. However, since no materials are entirely rigid, the surface's reaction to the cylinder involves a range of normal pressures.
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Rolling resistance, also known as rolling friction, is the force that resists the motion of a rolling object, such as a wheel, tire, or ball, when it moves over a surface. It is caused by the deformation of the object and the surface in contact with each other, as well as other factors like internal friction, hysteresis, and energy losses within the materials. Rolling resistance opposes the object's motion, requiring additional energy to overcome it and maintain movement. In practical...
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Manufacturing, Control, and Performance Evaluation of a Gecko-Inspired Soft Robot
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Twirlbot: Tumbleweed-inspired rolling robot.

Chi Chen1, Zhuo Wang1, Yuchen Wang2

  • 1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.

Science Advances
|April 29, 2026
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed a hollow spherical robot inspired by tumbleweeds, called Twirlbot. This innovative design enables autonomous, omnidirectional locomotion and diverse functionalities using only light, offering a low-cost, self-sustained robotic system.

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Area of Science:

  • Robotics
  • Materials Science
  • Biomimetics

Background:

  • Omnidirectional locomotion in robots offers enhanced maneuverability.
  • Existing spherical robots face challenges in complexity, weight, and cost due to embedded components and power sources.
  • Tumbleweed-inspired designs offer potential for hollow, stable structures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a cost-effective, untethered spherical robot with omnidirectional locomotion.
  • To explore the capabilities of a hollow spherical robot powered by light.
  • To demonstrate the potential for self-sustained robotic systems in various applications.

Main Methods:

  • Fabrication of a hollow spherical robot (Twirlbot) using photoactive/passive bilayer strips.
  • Utilizing constant light as the sole power source for autonomous rolling.
  • Testing functionalities including locomotion, slope climbing, cargo transport, and environmental adaptation.

Main Results:

  • Twirlbot demonstrated autonomous rolling and omnidirectional movement under constant light.
  • The robot exhibited multiple functionalities: slope climbing, trampling resistance, cargo transport, self-correction, and wind resistance.
  • The design proved generalizable to commercial materials, significantly reducing cost (less than one-tenth of existing robots).

Conclusions:

  • The Twirlbot presents a novel, low-cost, and self-sustained spherical robotic system.
  • Its design offers a promising pathway for next-generation untethered robots.
  • Potential applications include seed-sowing, commuting, and underwater wiring.