Traditionally, robots have been hard, made of metal and other hard material. But a team of scientists at Harvard University in the US has managed to build an entirely soft robot — one that draws inspiration (灵感) from an octopus (章鱼)．

Described in science journal Nature, the "Octobot" could pave the way for more effective autonomous robots that could be used in the search, rescue and exploration. "The Octobot is a minimal system which may serve as a foundation for a new generation of completely soft, autonomous robots，" the study's authors wrote.

Robots built for precise, repetitive movements in a controlled environment don't do so well on the rough ground or in unpredictable conditions. And they aren't especially safe around humans because they're made out of hard and heavy parts that could be possibly dangerous to their users.

So researchers have been working on building soft robots for several ten years. They've taken inspiration from nature, looking to animals from jellyfish to cockroaches, which are often made up of more soft matter.

But creating a completely soft robot remains a problem. Even if engineers build a silicone (硅酮) body, it's still a big challenge to make soft versions of essential parts, such as a source of power.

"Although soft robotics is still in its early stage, it holds great prospects for several applications, such as searches and rescue operations and exploration"， Barbara Mazzolai and Virgilio Mattoli of the Italian Institute of Technology's Center for MicroBioRobotics wrote. "Soft robots might also open up new ways to improving wellness and the quality of life."