Traditionally, robots have been hard, made of metal and other rigid material. But a team of scientists at Harvard University in the US has managed to build an (entire) soft robot — the "Octobot".
(describe) in science journal Nature, the "Octobot" could pave the way for (intelligent) robots that could be used in search, rescue and exploration than the traditional ones. "The Octobot is a minimal system which may serve a foundation for a new generation of completely soft, autonomous robots," the study's authors wrote.
Researchers (work) on building soft robots for decades. They've taken (inspire) from nature, looking to animals from jellyfish to cockroaches, which are often made up of more flexible matter.
However, creating a completely soft robot (remain) a challenge. Even if engineers build a silicone(硅酮)body, is still a grand challenge to construct flexible versions of essential parts, such as a source of power.
" soft robotics is still in its early stage, it holds a great promise for several applications, such as search-rescue operations and explorations," Barbara Mazzolai of Technology, Center for Micro-BioRobotics, wrote in a comment. "Soft robots might also open up new approaches to (improve) wellness and quality of life."
