MIT researchers create 3D-printed robots that 'practically walk out of' printer

The robots are 3D-printed in one single step using functional hydraulics. "All you have to do is stick in a battery and motor, and you have a robot that can practically walk right out of the printer," said Daniela Rus, director at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL). In a new paper, CSAIL researchers presented a process they call "printable hydraulics." The technique involves using a 3D inkjet printer to stack up material half the width of a human hair one layer at a time. The material is then dried using high-intensity ultraviolet light, which solidifies certain parts.