Due to their versatility of use, soft robots offer a lighter approach to automation, but until recently they have suffered from excessive complexity in construction: today a research group at Harvard has found a way to simplify the process.
The team developed a soft robot driven by compressed air that does not require complex control systems. A single air pump inlet in the legs of the machine through pipes of different length, determining movements and behavior.
The robot under study is a "quadruped" with a simple cross shape: its features make it ideal for carrying out tasks related to support, search and rescue space missions. They will be able to cross uneven terrain without worrying too much about falling or breaking like "rigid" robots, and will be easily replaceable.
