A new 3D printing technology can print complex robotic organs in a single pass. Vision-Controlled Jetting (VCJ) allows objects to be printed with more materials, more detail and in less time than previous technologies. Combining several techniques, the VCJ printer uses a 3D vision system to scan each printed layer and create a depth map of the object. This allows the next printing process under the ink jet nozzles to smooth out any irregularities without the need for mechanical smoothing.

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The VCJ printer can print with three different building materials simultaneously. A fourth print head uses a wax substrate, which is washed off at the end of the process. In the future, VCJ could be used to print multi-material robots or cell scaffolds for tissue engineering.

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Max is managing editor at THE DECODER. As a trained philosopher, he deals with consciousness, AI, and the question of whether machines can really think or just pretend to.
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