New Robots Curl Up Like Caterpillars and Scoot

When designing a robot with the ability to cover ground quickly, the seemingly slow, fuzzy little insect known as the caterpillar doesn't immediately spring to mind as the creature researchers would take their inspiration from.

Scientists, experimenting with a variety of soft-bodied robots with flexible structures that they hoped would adapt to unpredictable environments, found the robots were hampered by slow speeds. The researchers then looked to the soft-bodied caterpillar for design tips.