AI Summary
The article discusses the unique behavior of topological solitons in a robotic metamaterial, which exhibit particle-like characteristics but do not spread out or disappear. This discovery has implications for controlling robot movements, sensing their surroundings, and communication. The research could lead to advancements in robotics technology.
If it walks like a particle, and talks like a particle… it may still not be a particle. A topological soliton is a special type of wave or dislocation which behaves like a particle: it can move around but cannot spread out and disappear like you would expect from, say, a ripple on the surface of a pond. Researchers now demonstrate the atypical behavior of topological solitons in a robotic metamaterial, something which in the future may be used to control how robots move, sense their surroundings and communicate.