Biomimicry

Soft-bodied robots have numerous desirable qualities, such as the ability to squeeze through gaps. And so far, they've typically been manually assembled on a one-off basis. That could be about to change, though, thanks to a new manufacturing method.

Marine aquaculture pens have to be regularly checked for holes, plus the fish need to be inspected for parasites. And although the job is typically performed by human divers, it turns out that a robotic sea turtle may be a better choice for the task.

Scientists are continually looking at better ways to prevent ice buildup on planes, among them a Northwestern University team that is claiming a new surface coating inspired by mint leaves can reduce frost formation by up to 60 percent.

While it's important to keep aircraft wings ice-free, the application of chemical deicers before takeoff can be problematic. German scientists are working on something that could help, in the form of a laser-based treatment for flight surfaces.

While many insects that would otherwise become bat food rely on the sounds created by the nocturnal creatures to dodge their advances, deaf species of moth have no such luxury. These critters do have another trick up their sleeve, it turns out.

One of the challenges in designing micro air vehicles lies in the fact that if their battery is big enough to provide much range, it's too heavy for them to carry. Scientists have developed an alternative, in the form of a sun-powered flapping wing.

Engineers from Johns Hopkins have looked to how snakes move around to inform the design of a nimble new robot. It is hoped that the development could lead to search and rescue bots able to tackle all kinds of obstacles with ease.

In nature, pest insects and other parasites latch onto their hosts by inserting backward-facing barbs into their tissue. Scientists have now copied that strategy, in a system that could someday replace painful hypodermic needles.

Researchers have developed a new kind of wing that could dramatically improve the performance of small drones. Inspired by birds and insects, the wing has a leading edge that, as counterintuitive as it may seem, actually causes turbulence.

Getting rid of excess heat from a robot can be the difference between smooth operation and breakdown. Researchers at Cornell University have developed 3D-printed robot fingers that can regulate temperature by sweating.

Sea anemones are essentially soft-bodied tubes, that are capable of capturing a wide variety of prey items simply by engulfing them. Chinese scientists have now copied this concept in the form of what may be a "better" robotic grasper.

When it comes to body armor, there's typically a trade-off – it can either be highly impact-resistant or flexible, but not both. That may not be the case for much longer, however, thanks to an experimental new material inspired by a mollusc.