🤖Frog-Like Robot Hops, Climbs, and Swims with Snap-Actuated Limbs

This robot hops, climbs, and swims with snap-actuated limbs

Researchers at UCLA and the University of Michigan have built a frog-like robot that moves using flexible Nitinol rods that snap between shapes. This design allows the robot to hop across grass and sand, climb small steps, and swim at about half a body length per second. The robot's limbs store elastic energy and release it in sudden bursts, propelling the machine forward. This mechanism enables faster movement on various surfaces, reaching 3.21 body lengths per second on wood and averaging 2.46 body lengths per second across all surfaces. The robot's design could lead to more efficient and powerful robots, especially for small-scale applications. This is a big deal for anyone interested in robotics and automation, as it demonstrates a new way to achieve powerful movements without larger motors.