While the effects of climate change are reflected in the extremely high temperatures that now affect countries in the northern hemisphere, a sweating robot appears on the scene to teach humans to deal with the oppressive heat.
Its name is ANDI, which stands for “Advanced Newton Dynamic Instrument”. It is an advanced automaton developed by the Thermetrics company that in the past was used to test the effectiveness of sportswear. Its main ability is to emulate the thermal functioning of the human body.generating and absorbing heat. It does so thanks to 35 sensors and a package of components that make it an expensive machine: its cost is around $500,000.
Now, researchers from the Arizona State University (ASU), in the United States, decided to appeal to ANDI to monitor the effects of high temperatures on the body, and design solutions that mitigate health risks associated with extreme heat.
The robot that sweats teaches to bear the oppressive heat
This device offers a set of advanced functions to monitor the effects of heat. ANDI, for example, emulates human breathing, although its “lungs” are in an external tank. Additionally, he mimics the complex human cooling system with the inclusion of pores in his body, which emit a substance analogous to sweat.
Specifically, it can withstand temperatures of up to 60 degrees Celsius. It also measures solar radiation and the heat of the surrounding air. Its cold water circulation system allows you to stay cool, even in those extreme weather conditions.
The automaton also stands out for its versatility. the publication New Atlas notes that it can be adjusted to account for various ages, fitness levels, or specific health conditions. So, the sweating robot is postulated as a safe way to collect data and assess how heat affects humanswithout exposing people.
ANDI: the next steps in the investigations
“Is he first thermal manikin outdoors in the world (…) to measure how much heat it receives from the environment,” he said in statements to AFP mechanical engineering professor Konrad Rykaczewski. The ASU specialist indicated that ANDI will help us understand how to adjust our behavior to extreme conditions, which are already reflected in various countries around the world.
ASU scientists advance in their research with ANDI as the protagonist to fully understand the effects of heat. What benefits do you expect to gain from your study? On the one hand, that this anthropomorphic machine functions as a “guinea pig” to examine the risks and guidelines to follow in different conditions. In addition, it will serve to evaluate what type of clothing helps to mitigate the health impacts caused by extreme heat.
According to Jennifer Vanos, a climatologist who participates in the initiative, they plan to create “twins” of the robot that sweats to study more segments of the population. The team from the American university also has in mind creating specific sensors for work spaces, useful for adapting work tasks to the actual perceived heat and health variables of the people in those places.