The robots that can WALK out of a 3D printer: Machines with solid and liquid parts only need to plugged in before scuttling away

The machines are now making machines of their own, and there's no assembly required. Researchers in the US have developed 3D-printed robots containing solid and liquid parts which only need to be connected to a motor and power supply before they can scuttle off. By laying down all the components as it goes, the 3D printer can produce the robot's rigid support, flexible components and fluid filled channels as it builds up the layers. Researchers at MIT have developed a 3D printing technique for producing hydraulic components. The method makes it possible to print robots with hydraulic parts, simplifying the production process so even a novice can print their own robot. So far the team at Massachusetts Institute of Technology has printed a range of components, as well as a fully-printed six-legged bug-bot which can scuttle away on its rubbery limbs, and a soft gripper for picking up objects.