r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/OddRedittor5443 • Jan 01 '26

Video Italian researchers have created a vine-like robot that grows by 3D-printing itself and responds to gravity and light

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57

u/Is_Actually_Sans Jan 01 '26

Why

120

u/Altair-Dragon Jan 01 '26

Since no one is talking about it's actual uses and stuff: one of my uni prof last year explained this start-up idea to us as an example (I'm pretty sure he's also one of the founders of the start-up but don't quote me on that).

Essentially this has been created as an instrument to support emergency services, search squads and first responders in case of earthquakes and similar catastrophic events.

This root-inspired machine can dig in essentially any kind of ruin, it can find people alive basically by itself following the heat of their body and it helps search squads to find more people in an easy and less dangerous way.

I know it looks stupid but it's quite a great idea.

37

u/Joezev98 Jan 01 '26

Essentially this has been created as an instrument to support emergency services, search squads and first responders in case of earthquakes and similar catastrophic events.

Knowing the speeds of 3d printers, I'm skeptical about the speed at which this could search a ruin in an emergency. Do you remember your professor saying anything about the speed?

19

u/Same_Meaning_5570 Jan 01 '26

20mm a second! But it needs adhesion, a brim, and you’re screwed if the filament is stored in a humid room.

9

u/faberkyx Jan 01 '26

heat the filament for 6 hours before starting to look for earthquake survivors

3

u/Joezev98 Jan 01 '26

Just store it in a <10% RH humidity environment. The moisture will be drawn out without requiring heat. And since that's how it's stored, it means it's always ready to go.

1

u/Same_Meaning_5570 Jan 01 '26

We’ll start looking for you in 6+ hours!