Futurity · Space

Researchers Develop Hopping and Swimming Robots Using Elastic Rods

Scientists have engineered small robots capable of hopping and swimming by utilizing the snapping motion of bent elastic rods, a mechanism that could be beneficial for robots with limited power.

The research, published in Science Advances and co-led by UCLA and the University of Michigan, demonstrates how programming elastic structures to store and release energy can enable powerful, repeatable motions without high motor output. This principle could be applied to robots navigating complex terrains, overcoming obstacles, or operating in both land and water environments.

By optimizing a helical rod shape, researchers maximized energy bursts and quick resets. The study found that the rod's shape, rather than its size, determines whether it snaps sharply or deforms gradually, suggesting the design rules are scalable for robots as small as a few millimeters.

The team built prototype robots that use these snapping rods, connected to a rotating motor, to hop. The motor twists the bent rods until they snap, releasing energy for propulsion. The motor then unwinds the twist to prepare for the next snap.

A frog-like prototype, weighing approximately 0.25 lbs, successfully hopped on various surfaces including wood, glass, leather, sand, and grass. It could also climb steps and, with paddle attachments, swim.

The robot demonstrated maneuverability, turning by adjusting the rate of its two snapping rods. It was remotely controlled to navigate an obstacle course and could autonomously approach a light source using light sensors. The robot's speed was comparable to a baby loggerhead turtle.

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