A team at Stanford University is developing a search and rescue soft snake robot The flexible robot has a pump at one end and a camera at the other The robot’s mechanism allows the robot to slither and squeeze through tiny spaces to search for and reach survivors It can even deliver supplies while the victim waits to be recovered 6
Everything that exists today in nature is the result of billions of years of evolution tested against the elements and optimized by survival of the fittest Nature is the world’s largest science and engineering lab with 3 8 billion years of experience A snake can get into a tight space by bracing the back portion of its body as it pushes and extends the front 7
Biomimicry involves studying the way functions are delivered in biology and then translating that into designs that suit human needs Scientists and engineers involved in biomimicry are often referred to as biomimics people who learn from and attempt to mimic ways that nature has evolved to survive and thrive on Earth for millions of years Human-inspired robots with high-functioning hands can use human tools and often perform tasks better and more efficiently than humans especially in dangerous situations 8
They study and learn from nature to create innovative designs that help solve problems in our human societies and improve the world Robotics is one of the most exciting fields where scientists and engineers have been inspired by ideas from nature In addition to humanoid robots that mimic human movement and behavior many other creatures have provided important contributions to robotics 9
