A new type of soft robot can crawl like a worm, climb cables, and suddenly snap into a completely different shape to move in a new direction—all controlled by a single air input. This breakthrough, developed by researchers at Seoul National University, introduces a fundamentally new way for soft robots to move and adapt to their surroundings. The work is published in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science.
Soft robots, made from flexible materials, are known for their ability to bend and stretch. However, until now, they struggled to precisely control motion and required complex systems with multiple inputs to perform different tasks.
This new robot solves these challenges by using a snap-through mechanism, similar to how a toy jumping popper suddenly flips inside out or how a Venus flytrap quickly closes around its prey. The researchers designed a Snap Inflatable Modular Metastructure (SIMM) that allows the robot to both smoothly deform and rapidly snap into a new configuration—using just one air source.
Soft robots that move in ways never seen before
To demonstrate the power of this system, the team built two robotic designs:
- Crawling and climbing robot—This robot crawls across surfaces like an earthworm by expanding and contracting its body. Unlike existing soft robots, it can also grip and climb cables, making it useful for navigating difficult environments.
- Self-reconfiguring robot—This robot moves forward by bending, but then, with a sudden snap, it expands into a larger shape, enabling it to change direction and navigate complex terrain. This ability to move in different directions on demand has never been demonstrated in soft robotics before.
With its ability to crawl, climb, and snap into new forms, this technology could lead to rescue robots that navigate through debris, medical robots that move inside the human body, and deployable structures that change shape on demand.
More information:
Ji-Sung Park et al. Snap Inflatable Modular Metastructures for Multi-Path, Multi-Mode Morphing Machines, Cell Reports Physical Science (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrp.2025.102448. www.cell.com/cell-reports-phys … 2666-3864(25)00047-5
Seoul National University
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Engineers develop soft robot that crawls, climbs, and shape-shifts to move in new directions (2025, February 11)
retrieved 11 February 2025
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