soft robotics

MIT researchers have built a paper-thin swimming robot that moves using living muscle cells rather than motors. The soft robotic swimmer can navigate through watery mazes, demonstrating precise control of biohydraulic movement in a device thin enough to be flexible like paper. The work highlights growing progress in biohybrid robotics, where engineered living tissue is combined with synthetic materials to create machines that move in ways conventional robots cannot.

Researchers at the Technical University of Munich have developed a soft robotic exosuit that assists older adults with standing up and walking. In a study, 10 participants completed sit-to-stand movements faster while wearing the suit, which supports the body with fabric-based actuators rather than a rigid frame. The work points to assistive robotics that could help seniors stay mobile and independent in daily life.

Researchers have developed a wind-up elastic robot that can keep jumping continuously when supplied with infrared light. The material converts the light into heat, re-tensioning its elastic body so the hopping cycle repeats without batteries or manual rewinding. The demonstration is drawing attention as a possible route to small, untethered soft robots for exploration or search tasks.

Fast Company reports that ETH Zurich's Soft Robotics Lab has developed a robotic hand inspired by Thing, the disembodied hand character from 'The Addams Family'. The project uses soft robotics to build a more flexible, lifelike gripper, and is being discussed as an example of how playful pop-culture references can drive serious innovation in robotic design.

Engineers have developed a continuous artificial muscle said to unlock more dexterous movement in soft robots, an area where precise, flexible actuation has long been a challenge. The technology, reported by Tech Xplore, could broaden soft robotics applications in manipulation and delicate tasks. Technical details and potential commercialisation timelines remain limited in the initial reporting.

Engineers at MIT have designed a small swimming robot propelled by living muscle cells, according to Forbes. The biohybrid device uses biological tissue as its power source rather than a conventional motor, pointing to a growing field of robotics that merges synthetic structures with living cells for soft, agile movement.

Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have developed a new material inspired by the Venus flytrap that can sense objects and grasp them when exposed to light. The finding points to soft robotic hands that respond to stimuli without complex electronics, and it is drawing attention in robotics and materials science circles.

Researchers have unveiled a paper-thin robot driven by living muscle cells that can swim its way through an underwater maze. The biohybrid device, reported by Tech Xplore, demonstrates how engineered muscle tissue can be used to propel soft microrobots through complex aquatic environments, a step with potential applications in medicine and targeted delivery.

Researchers have equipped a paper-thin robot with living muscle tissue, giving the tiny machine a dramatic boost in strength and movement. The biohybrid design suggests new possibilities for soft robotics in medicine and delicate tasks. Details of the team and institution behind the work remain sparse, but the fusion of biological muscle with ultra-thin robotic frames is drawing attention across the robotics field.

Researchers have unveiled a bio-inspired airborne robot capable of making a soft landing on water and then converting into an autonomous sailboat. The hybrid design allows the craft to fly to a target, set down gently on the surface, and continue operating as a sailing vessel, combining aerial mobility with water-based endurance in a single vehicle.

Researchers at KAIST in South Korea have developed a new material for robotic hands inspired by the Venus flytrap, which can sense objects and grasp them when stimulated by light. The biomimetic design is being reported by science news outlets, drawing attention for combining sensing and actuation in a single soft material that responds without complex electronics.

Researchers at the National University of Singapore's College of Design and Engineering report that a single artificial muscle can drive dexterous motion in soft robots, a capability usually requiring multiple actuators. The announcement, carried via EurekAlert, suggests simpler, cheaper designs for soft robotics with applications in manipulation and delicate tasks. Details of the underlying mechanism and peer review status are not yet widely reported.

Researchers at the National University of Singapore's College of Design and Engineering report that a single artificial muscle can drive dexterous motion in soft robots. The finding, announced via a science news release, suggests simplified actuator designs could make soft robotic systems cheaper and easier to build, with potential uses in grippers, medical devices and adaptable machines.