Scientists develop a tiny 98-gram hopping robot that uses snapping elastic metal rods to move faster across six terrains, climb stairs and swim through water |– timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Researchers have developed a small, untethered robot that uses snapping elastic rods to hop across sand, grass, glass-like acrylic and other surfaces, as well as swim in water. According to the study published in Science Advances, titled ‘Geometry-controlled instability pathway selection in elastic helices enables fast, efficient robotic locomotion’, the study describes how superelastic nickel-titanium rods store energy before releasing it in a rapid movement called snap-through. The robot measures 11 centimetres by 8 centimetres by 4 centimetres and weighs 98.2 grams. It reached speeds of 3.21 body lengths per second, with tests showing improved movement across six terrains compared with a rigid-legged control.