Scientists inspired by the octopus’s nervous system have developed a robot that can decide how to move or grip objects by sensing its environment.
Scientists inspired by the octopus’s nervous system have developed a robot that can decide how to move or grip objects by sensing its environment.
The team from the University of Bristol’s Faculty of Science and Engineering designed a simple yet smart robot which uses fluid flows of air or water to coordinate suction and movement as octopuses do with hundreds of suckers and multiple arms.
The study, published today in the journal Science Robotics, shows how a soft robot can use suction flow not just to stick to things, but also to sense its environment and control its own actions—just like an octopus. A single suction system enables the robot to grab delicate items, sense whether it’s touching air, water, or a rough surface, and even predict how hard something is pulling on it—all at once, without needing a central computer.
Lead author Tianqi Yue explained: “Last year, we developed an artificial suction cup that mimicked how octopuses stick to rocks using soft materials and water sealing.
Read more at University of Bristol
Image: Suction cups using suction intelligence to grasp object (Credit: Tianqi Yue)
