According to researchers, the mantis shrimp strikes with speeds of up to 55.6 mph (90 km/h) to break its prey, and the flea can jump more than 200 times its body length. The ability of these creatures to generate powerful forces with their soft bodies is attributed to the “torque reversal mechanism,” which allows for the rapid switching of rotational force direction applied by muscles to their limbs. This mechanism is key to their remarkable physical capabilities.
“Our research team previously developed flea-inspired robots capable of achieving high jumps both on land and water, and this latest study is particularly significant as it is an advancement that achieves powerful performance in soft, rubber-like structures,” said Kyu-Jin Cho, a professor at the Seoul National University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, in a statement.