Bug-size Bots Get More Nimble With Flexible Actuators

Small, autonomous robots that can access cramped environments could help with future search-and-rescue operations and inspecting infrastructure details that are difficult to access by people or larger bots. However, the conventional, rigid motors that many robots rely on are difficult to miniaturize to these scales, because they easily break when made smaller or can no longer overcome friction forces.Now, researchers have developed a muscle-inspired elasto-electromagnetic system to build insect-