NASA is developing 3D printed soft robots to explore the moon and other planets

A soft plastic'robot' that can take on different shapes is being developed in a NASA laboratory to be used one day for exploring the moon and beyond. It has been made using 3D printing technology with a mould and liquid plastic that cools to form the final structure. It has been designed with internal air pockets that can be inflated and deflated to create different shapes, sizes and strengths out of silicon. Their plasticity means they are more resistance to hard hits and can take on multiple functions, even joining together to form temporary mega structures. A soft plastic'robot' (pictured) that can take on different shapes is being developed in a NASA laboratory to be used one day for exploring the moon and beyond Two interns, Chuck Sullivan and Jack Fitzpatrick,working in NASA's Langley's Makerspace Lab, have created a small plastic device that could be the prototype of a future'collapsible' space robot.