This is a type of robotic tentacle, but it was woodpeckers, not octopuses, that inspired scientists to this invention. These birds have a very long, flexible, mobile hyoid bone because it wraps around the skull and can slide. In this way, the tongue of the woodpecker searching for food under tree bark can extend to a distance exceeding 3 times the length of its beak.
Scientists have created a manipulator consisting of a motor module with three electric motors on whose shafts the worms reside, as well as a flexible spine-like tentacle consisting of a series of “spines” spaced evenly apart from each other. These are disks with three semicircular slots at 120 degrees on the outside, through which flexible threaded rods pass.
The discs are 3D printed. The peculiarity of this robot is that the tentacle is placed in the central hole of the motor module in such a way that it connects to the gear rods of three worms on the shafts of the control electric motors, forming an unusual rack and pinion gear.
Source: Ferra
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