This 3D-Printed Robot can Practically Walk Right Out of the Printer

A team of experts from MIT have employed a novel 3D printing technique to combine solids and liquids in order to create a hydraulic six legged robot. MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) researchers reveal the first-ever technique for 3-D printing robots, that involves printing solid and liquid materials at the same time, in a new paper. This interesting bot was created using a 3D printer that had commercial value. A series of bellows provided traction force to the mechanical legs and they were filled with liquid during the period of printing. This is a progressive step in 3D printing since instead of creating individual components, whole active systems can be manufactured.