Inchworm-inspired soft robot @esaextras

Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg developed an inchworm-inspired soft robot as part of an ESA Discovery activity exploring new approaches to soft robot locomotion for planetary exploration. The robot uses a rolled dielectric elastomer actuator – a type of artificial muscle – to mimic the inchworm's contracting and extending motion, and is designed to be lightweight, power-efficient and resilient enough to operate in the harsh conditions of space.

Credits: Dr Hari Prakash Thanabalan/University of Gothenburg

Access the video on the ESA video library: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2026/04/Inchworm-inspired_soft_robot

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