soft robotics

Researchers have developed a continuous artificial muscle that allows soft robots to move with far greater dexterity, according to Tech Xplore. The advance could help soft robots perform precise, lifelike motions that rigid robotic systems struggle to achieve, with potential uses in handling delicate objects and working safely around people.

Researchers have equipped an ultra-thin, paper-like robot with living muscle tissue, giving the tiny machine far greater strength and mobility than conventional actuators allow. The biohybrid approach suggests new possibilities for soft robotics, minimally invasive medical devices and delicate manipulation tasks. Coverage highlights how integrating living cells into flexible machines could reshape the field of small-scale robotics.

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.