Project: Make a Compressible Tensegrity Robot

Finished tensegrity robot
Figure 2-2. Finished tensegrity robot

A tensegrity robot is made up of rigid struts suspended by a web of cords under tension, which let it move and respond to changes in its surroundings.

What It Does

A tensegrity structure can flex, stretch, compress when dropped or pressed, and then spring back into shape. It also has a high degree of compliance, a robotics term that means it won’t harm people or equipment around it. That, together with its resilience, makes the tensegrity a useful framework for robots that need to withstand jolts or squeeze and twist themselves through irregular spaces. ...

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