An Institute for Technology isn’t the most likely location for a terrarium but the mechanical engineering department at the one in Massachusetts has, and its full of snails as part of a movement study.
Annette Hosoi is the associate professor intrigued by their ability to move around in every direction with great ease and do it on almost any surface with their slimy underbellies.
After studying the fluid dynamics of snail slime (similar to mayonnaise apparently) Hosoi and her students built their all-terrain RoboSnail.
The robot is made up of moveable segments that ripple on top of a layer of synthetic snail gloop and tests show it is able to climb up walls and stick to ceilings.
This is just the latest inspiration from the animal kingdom in the world of robotics, we’ve had a Cockroach, Seal, Snake and even nightclub bouncer.
