Stanford’s Vine Like Growing Robot

Here is a new robot that grows like a vine, across distances without moving its whole body. Stanford researchers developed the robot with a tube of soft material folded inside itself. The body extends from one end but doesn’t move fully. Here is why this approach matters:

The body can be stuck to the environment or jammed between rocks, but that doesn’t stop the robot because the tip can continue to progress as new material is added to the end

explained Elliot Hawkes. The current prototype is powered with pneumatic air pressure. Future version may grow with liquid.

[HT]