Biomimicry

Researchers continue to draw inspiration from the animal world for their projects. This new drone can land on a tree branch just like a bird. Equipped with special tactile sensors, it can literally feel its way to a safe landing.

Few things make the career jump from regional cuisine delicacy to robotics actuator. Yet, in research vaguely reminiscent of RoboCop, scientists have used skeletal muscle from a literal frog leg as an actuator to control a tiny robotic manta ray.

Engineers continue to draw inspiration from nature. Scientists from New York University have developed a robot that resembles a fish, and can be easily scaled up or down in size to explore different water bodies.

Engineers used adversarial inverse reinforcement learning to train robots to respond dynamically to uneven terrain and loss of limbs, a training system transferrable to dissimilar robots. And they did so using a stick insect as a role model.

A self-arranging fleet of FloatForm robots requires minimal coordination for navigating, avoiding collisions, magnetically adhering to each other, and detaching themselves. FloatForms could create emergency platforms or future work and living space.

Some of the smartest engineering ideas are inspired by nature. A new robotic gripper, EleTac, borrows its design from the tip of an elephant’s trunk and it’s reportedly capable of not only detecting and holding objects, but also “feeling” them.

Scientists have created a robotic bird that swims, dives, and rockets out of water to fly, all without propellers, legs, or folding tricks. Just clever engineering solving a problem nature already does gracefully.

The sandfish lizard moves very efficiently through the sand, and not surprisingly, it doesn't use wheels to do so. Scientists have now copied the reptile's swimming motion in an experimental Mars rover that outperforms others in sandy soil.

A new 3D camera inspired by jumping spiders' eyes may well be found in the next generation of battery-operated wearable tech, assistive devices, robots and drones. The technology utilizes “less energy than a nightlight.”

Italian researchers built a soft robotic arm modeled on octopus neurology. With touch sensors in each sucker and no cameras or central computer, it autonomously detects, grabs, and manipulates underwater objects.

Bioinspired mechanisms have long been used in engineering. Recently, researchers developed a self-controlled technology that can automatically detect potential danger and activate a protective shell, similar to an armadillo.

Honeybees travel up to 2 miles from home to forage and seamlessly return. That’s equivalent to a human walking 226 miles without any equipment. Scientists have replicated this ability in a navigation system for drones that uses just 42 KB of memory.