The University of Gothenburg in Sweden has unveiled an unusual soft robot that moves like a caterpillar. Scientists believe that, in the future, this tiny device could inspect sewer pipes and even help explore Mars.
The robot, just three centimeters long, is made entirely of soft materials and has no rigid parts. Its movements mimic the contraction of a caterpillar’s muscles. The device is built from thin polymer «artificial muscles» that expand when exposed to a low electrical voltage and return to their original shape when the voltage is turned off.
During testing, the robot successfully navigated uneven surfaces and remained fully functional even after extended use. Its small size allows it to be equipped with a camera and used to inspect pipelines where conventional equipment cannot fit.
The developers are also looking much further ahead. They believe that similar soft robots could be useful for exploring Mars and other planets. These robots are capable of entering narrow crevices, caves and other hard-to-reach areas where traditional Mars rovers risk getting stuck.
To make the design more durable, engineers reinforced it with carbon nanotubes. These help the robot remain operational even after minor damage and could potentially protect its electronics from cosmic radiation during future space missions.
