A team of researchers led by Professor Kisuke Takahashi from the University of Hokkaido, Japan, iroduced the Fluid opening robot (ieractive device using fluid fluids) made using 3D prier and cheap electronic compones.
Designed to automate material syhesis tests, the robot succeeded in accurately producing cobalt and nickel binary materials, paving the way for wider access to advanced technologies.
The Fluid robot consists of four independe modules, each coaining a syringe, two valves, a servo engine for corolling the valves, and a staircase motor for precise moveme of the syringe piston. These modules, along with capacity detection sensors and software to corol the performance, allow complex tests at a much lower cost than commercial robots.
The design files of this robot have been published publicly so that researchers around the world can rebuild or customize it according to their needs.
According to Michael Kuwahara, the main author of the study, the use of open source technology and available compones has reduced the cost of making FLUID to a fraction of the price of commercial robots. It offers a unique opportunity for researchers in areas with limited resources or specialized areas where business solutions are expensive or scarce.
Professor Takahashi emphasized that this approach seeks to democratic automation in materials syhesis and accelerates innovation in materials science.
By adding temperature sensors and pH sensors, the researchers iend to extend Fluid capabilities for more complex chemical reactions such as polymer syhesis and organic matter.
Also, the robot’s software will be improved with features such as macro recording for duplicate tasks and more accurate data recording. This innovation can bring about a change in access to advanced tools for researchers around the world.
