Caterpillar Bodies May Inspire Soft-body Robot Design

A recent study shows that the unique constitution of caterpillar bodies could give ideas to develop robots with soft bodies.

Speaking of what was dubbed as a "two-body" system, Barry Trimmer, a professor of biology and of natural sciences at Tufts University, said in a university news release, "Understanding this novel motion system may help efforts to design soft-bodied robots. It may also prompt re-examination of the potential role soft tissues play in biomechanical performance of humans and other animals."

Not only would the focus be on the exterior of the caterpillar and how that would effect external robotic design, but the interior of the caterpillar as well.

Trimmer added, "The focus to date has been on robots' external design, but we also have to look at how it's most advantageous to arrange the inside of the robot and any payload. Would motion be enhanced, for example, by packing more mass toward the rear, as these caterpillars seem to do?"

The U.S. National Science Foundation funded the initial research.