New ideas in robotics are often inspired by animals. From kangaroos to octopi, creatures from all over the animal kingdom have given great ideas to the roboticist that study them. The latest: earthworms.
Japanese researchers created a new robot based on worms that can travel 9 mm per second. If you’re having trouble imagining that speed, it’s about .02 mph. That’s about the same as the Curiosity Rover. Or a snail.
It can carry a payload of 100 grams. That’s about the weight of one apple.
It may not sound very impressive, but worm-inspired robots can solve problems associated with more typical robots.
Advantages of wormy robots
Earthworms excel at navigating complex and challenging terrains due to their unique peristaltic movement. Biomimicking this motion can lead to robots that can traverse uneven surfaces. Earthworm-inspired robots can maneuver through rough terrain, sand, and even underwater, making them suitable for exploration, search and rescue missions, and agricultural tasks.
They can also squeeze through tight spaces. Their soft and flexible bodies allow them to navigate confined spaces, potentially useful for inspections, maintenance, and medical applications.
Earthworms move with minimal energy expenditure, thanks to their efficient muscle system and low friction movement.Their low energy consumption makes them more sustainable and environmentally friendly compared to traditional robots. They may also be able to adapt to new environments more easily.
Biomimicry
The researchers hope to add AI capabilities to their biomimic worms. Of course they do. They’re ready to get their worms out into the real world and see what they can do.