Tech & Biz

Soft, squishy, octopus like robots can change shape, size

by LotusFlower | July 9, 2008 at 10:44 am

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Researchers are developing organic robots that will mimic the way octupuses move and use their bodies. They believe that within two years these organic machines will change robotics forever. This approach using nature as the model confronts the stereotype of the Metal Mickey hard and shiney robot.

Scientists at Tufts University are developing soft, squishy robots that are able to squeeze into spaces a fraction of their normal size and then morph back into their original size and shape.

"They'd be like an octopus that can change its shape into anything. A large octopus can compress itself down to the size of its eyeball. We have no idea how to do that yet, but this project is trying to understand the technology that is needed to do that."