Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Inspired by Cheerios: New Robot Design Unveiled

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Beetles can float across ponds and Cheerios can stick together in a bowl. Tiny floating robots use a similar effect called the Marangoni effect. It happens when a liquid spreads quickly over another liquid with a different surface tension.

Researchers at Harvard University made small round robots with air inside and fuel made of alcohol. The alcohol leaks out slowly, making the robot move on water.

The robots move faster with stronger alcohol. They can make wide curves or spin when many robots are stuck together. This is similar to how Cheerios stick together in a bowl.

These 3D-printed robots can help students learn surface tension concepts. They can also be used in the environment or industry to spread chemicals evenly without human help.

These robots have interesting uses and behaviors that make them helpful in many fields.


Vocabulary List:

  1. Marangoni /ˌmær.əˈɡoʊ.ni/ (noun): A phenomenon where a liquid spreads quickly over another liquid due to differences in surface tension.
  2. Robots /ˈroʊ.bɑːts/ (noun): Machines capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically.
  3. Surface Tension /ˈsɜr.fɪs ˈtɛn.ʃən/ (noun): The characteristic of a liquid surface that makes it behave like a stretched elastic membrane.
  4. Alcohol /ˈæl.kə.hɔːl/ (noun): A class of chemical compounds of which ethanol is the most commonly used as a fuel.
  5. Chemicals /ˈkɛm.ɪ.kəlz/ (noun): Substances used in or produced by chemical processes.
  6. Curves /kɜrvz/ (noun): Smooth continuous lines or paths that are not straight.

How much do you know?


What is the name of the effect that tiny floating robots use to move on water?
Marangoni effect
Buoyancy effect
Capillary action
Surface tension effect


What type of fuel do the small round robots have?
Gasoline
Alcohol
Electricity
Biofuel


What helps the robots move faster?
Air inside them
Stronger alcohol
Buoyant force
Electric propulsion


How can multiple robots spin?
By releasing air bubbles
By magnetic force
By sticking together
By changing shape


What can these 3D-printed robots be used for in education?
Learning about gravity
Understanding buoyancy
Exploring aerodynamics
Teaching surface tension concepts


In which fields can these robots be helpful?
Space exploration only
Medical industry only
Many fields
Entertainment industry


Beetles can float across ponds and Cheerios can stick together in a bowl.


The alcohol leaks out slowly, causing the robots to move on water.


The robots can only move in straight lines on water.


These robots are not useful in educational settings.


The Marangoni effect occurs when liquids with different surface tensions interact.


These robots cannot spread chemicals evenly in industrial applications.


Tiny floating robots use a similar effect called the effect.


The robots move faster with alcohol.


These 3D-printed robots can help students learn concepts.


The robots can also be used in the environment or industry to spread chemicals evenly without human .


The robots have interesting uses and behaviors that make them helpful in fields.


The researchers at Harvard University made small round robots with inside and fuel made of alcohol.

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