Miniature Flatworm Robot

Researchers at EPFL’s School of Engineering and the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems have collaborated to develop a groundbreaking robot inspired by marine flatworms. This innovative device, smaller than a credit card and weighing only 6 grams, is designed to navigate through tight spaces and carry payloads much heavier than itself. With its nimble swimming capabilities, the robot is well-suited for tasks in confined environments such as rice fields and for conducting inspections in waterborne machinery.

EPFL Soft Transducers Lab head Herbert Shea explains the challenges faced in creating this aquatic robot, stating, “In 2020, our team showcased autonomous insect-scale crawling robots, but developing untethered ultra-thin robots for underwater use presented a whole new set of obstacles.” The team had to innovate new soft actuators, locomotion strategies, and high-voltage electronics to bring the project to fruition.

Unlike conventional propeller-based systems, the EPFL robot utilizes undulating fins for propulsion, taking inspiration from the graceful movement of marine flatworms. This design, combined with its lightweight construction, enables the robot to float on the water's surface seamlessly blending into natural surroundings.

By rapidly oscillating its fins, the robot can achieve impressive speeds of up to 12 centimeters per second, outpacing marine flatworms. With the use of four artificial muscles to drive the fins, the robot exhibits exceptional maneuverability, capable of moving forward, backward, turning, and swimming sideways with precision.

To power the robot, researchers developed a compact electronic control system that can deliver up to 500 volts to the actuators while consuming low power, equivalent to four times less than that of an electric toothbrush. Despite the high voltage, the robot's low currents and shielded circuitry ensure its safety in the environment. Equipped with light sensors acting as rudimentary eyes, the robot can autonomously detect and track light sources.

The potential applications of this aquatic robot are vast, ranging from ecological research and pollution monitoring to precision agriculture. The researchers are now focused on enhancing the robot's operational efficiency and autonomy to facilitate field tests. Project member Hartmann emphasizes the importance of advancing bioinspired robotics and creating lifelike robotic systems that coexist harmoniously with nature.