Cornell uses ‘robot blood’ to give modular jellyfish and worm robots lifelike vigor
These new modular robots are inspired by nature’s evolutionary path from water to land.
Taking a cue from nature’s evolutionary path from water to land, the Organic Robotics Lab and the Archer Group at Cornell Engineering have made a fascinating development in modular robotics.
Their new worm and jellyfish robots are built around the transformative concept of “embodied energy,” where integrating the power source into the robot’s structure reduces weight and cost, mirroring the evolutionary advancements from aquatic to terrestrial life.
The technology stems from a 2019 prototype inspired by a lionfish, utilizing a hydraulic fluid system, or “robot blood,” that powers devices by circulating energy. This system has been refined for higher battery capacity and power density, supporting the new robotic forms in more complex environments.
Professor Rob Shepherd explains that the jellyfish’s enhanced capacity allows it to operate longer than its aquatic predecessor, while the worm, their first terrestrial model, demonstrates greater freedom of movement without needing a rigid structure.