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Tiny Frog-Like Robot Uses Snapping Elastic Rods to Hop, Swim and Cross Wet Surfaces
Key Takeaways
- Researchers published a study on Sept. 18 in Science Advances examining how twisting bent elastic rods can produce a snapping motion used for hopping and swimming.
- A palm-sized prototype weighing about 3.4 ounces travels roughly three body lengths per second using short jumps.
- The robot can hop across wet surfaces, swim and navigate an obstacle course.
- Co-first author Xiaonan (Sean) Huang of the University of Michigan said the approach lets mechanics replace some of the work normally done by larger motors or complex control.
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DT Editorial Team··via livescience.com