Researchers at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have unveiled a micro-robot that mimics the extraordinary leaping abilities of springtails—tiny soil-dwelling organisms known for their remarkable leaping prowess.
The innovative micro-robot walks and leaps over obstacles, pushing the boundaries of what small-scale robots can achieve. Researchers unveiled their springtail-inspired design in the latest issue of Science Robotics.
Springtails, often overlooked inhabitants of leaf litter and garden soil, possess a unique appendage called a furcula—a forked, tail-like structure tucked beneath their bodies. When threatened, they release this furcula, propelling themselves into the air to escape predators.
Inspired by this natural mechanism, the Harvard team has equipped their Harvard Ambulatory Micro-robot (HAMR) – a micro-robot platform initially modeled after the cockroach – with a robotic version of the furcula, enabling it to perform impressive jumps.
“Springtails are interesting as inspiration, given their ubiquity, both spatially and temporally across evolutionary scales,” study co-author and Harvard professor Dr. Robert J. Wood said in a press release. “They have this unique mechanism that involves rapid contact with the ground, like a quick punch, to transfer momentum and initiate the jump.”
The robot employs a technique known as latch-mediated spring actuation. In this process, potential energy is stored in an elastic element—the robotic furcula—which can be released in milliseconds, functioning like a catapult. This principle is prevalent in nature, observed in chameleons’ swift tongue strikes and mantis shrimp’s powerful appendage movements.
The research team, leveraging microfabrication techniques developed in their lab, created a palm-sized robot weighing approximately as much as a paper clip.
This agile device can walk, jump, climb, strike objects, and even scoop up items. Notably, it achieves some of the most extended and highest jumps relative to its size among existing robots; its top performance reaches 4.5 feet, equating to 23 times its body length. By comparison, a similar robot can jump twice as far but is 20 times heavier than the Harvard micro-robot.
“I think that simplicity is what initially charmed me into exploring this type of solution,” first author and former SEAS research fellow Francisco Ramirez Serrano said. “Existing micro-robots that move on flat terrain and jump do not possess nearly the agility that our platform does.”
The team incorporated detailed computer simulations into the robot’s design to ensure optimal landing after each jump. These simulations allowed precise control over the lengths of linkages, the amount of stored energy, and the robot’s orientation before takeoff.
The fusion of walking and jumping capabilities in a lightweight robot opens new possibilities for navigating environments that are too challenging or hazardous for humans.
“Walking provides a precise and efficient locomotion mode but is limited in terms of obstacle traversal,” Dr. Wood explained. “Jumping can get over obstacles but is less controlled. The combination of the two modes can be effective for navigating natural and unstructured environments.”
The development of this springtail-inspired micro-robot is the latest example of researchers turning to the natural world for technological innovations. Earlier this week, researchers in Japan revealed the development of a bio-hybrid drone that uses live silkworm moth antennae to navigate and detect odors.
These latest innovations pave the way for a future where agile micro-robots can independently navigate tight spaces, tackle rugged terrain, and monitor environments without human oversight. Moreover, as artificial intelligence continues to advance, the prospect of robots performing tasks once deemed impossible or confined to the realm of science fiction is rapidly becoming a reality.
Tim McMillan is a retired law enforcement executive, investigative reporter and co-founder of The Debrief. His writing typically focuses on defense, national security, the Intelligence Community and topics related to psychology. You can follow Tim on Twitter: @LtTimMcMillan. Tim can be reached by email: tim@thedebrief.org or through encrypted email: LtTimMcMillan@protonmail.com