Harvard University Creates Flexible Robot

Squid robot movements

Researchers of Harvard University, in United States, created a flexible robot inspired in a squid and a sea star. This unique robot was made with materials that allowed it to move through different terrains on the contrary to the more rigid models.

Investigators used soft materials and compressed air to push it. Professor Robert Shephers, from the Investigation Group George Whitesides and his colleagues of Harvard University in Cambridge informed that their creation was inspired in those animals because they lack of a hard skeleton.

The pneumatically-driven robot is built using flexible materials known as ‘elastomers’, which has some elastic properties. The machine can adopt different patterns of movements and its arms allow it to move. However, the experts recognize that the elastomeric skins are vulnerable which makes the robot weak against cuts. (AV)