A group of researchers have created the first robot made from completely soft parts which they call "Octobot." These octopus-like robotic creatures can adapt more easily to some environments with their soft exterior, as compared to conventional robots made from rigid materials.
A recent study suggests that conventional robots are prone to harm because they are built from rigid materials. They can be damaged easily from falls, scrapes, and bumps and are susceptible to obstacles that can potentially impair their structure. Given this challenge, a team of engineers from Harvard University created the "Octobot."
The "Octobot" is considered a fully autonomous soft-bodied robot powered through an on-board chemical reaction. The robot is built with a central controller inside its body that functions by jolting hydrogen peroxide fuel through reaction chambers that convert the liquid into gas, and then into water vapor. The gas emitted inflates the robot's leg through small channels running through the body. When the gas has finished making the "Octobot" squirm, it has to be excreted somewhere so the team created vents where it can be fart through. It is entertaining to note that in laymen's term, the robot is powered by fart.
Over the course of the project, the engineering team has created a hundred "Octobot." Currently, the new batch of "Octobot's" can steer in any particular direction and has fuels that can last between 4 to 8 minutes. The team is conducting more research to improve the robots as they envision using them for military surveillance and enhancing marine search and rescue.