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Octobot: A Soft, Autonomous Robot

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The Octobot is the first entirely soft, autonomous robot. It is made by a combination of embedded 3D printing, modeling, and soft lithography.

Inspired by real octopuses, the Octobot has no rigid components. It is powered by a chemical reaction and controlled with a microfluidic logic that directs the flow of fuel. The logic circuit acts just like a circuit board, autonomously directing fuel. The Octobot paves the way for a new generation of soft robots.

Credit: Ryan L. Truby, Michael Wehner and Lori K. Sanders. Produced by Leah Burrows.

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