Mimicking Adaptation and Plasticity in WORMS

Biomimicry, smart materials and shape-morphing robots

This is the core of the MAPWORMS project and its future, ambitious evolutions: starting a novel paradigm of robotic systems, able to overcome the limitations of current state-of-the-art solutions by embedding responsivity in the constitutive materials of the machines.

Indeed, the main aim of MAPWORMS is developing a new concept of bioinspired robots qualified to fulfill tasks in response to environmental stimuli thanks to their smart materials. In particular, the robot will be able:

• to sense environmental cues;
• to morph its shape;
• to adapt to the environment.

The result is a completely autonomous robot capable of performing many different tasks, rather than a robot controlled by a central unit and able to execute specific tasks only in a pre-defined and structured environment, under detailed circumstances.

What did we take inspiration from? The marine Annelida able to adapt to all the marine habitats, even the extreme ones, by burrowing into sediments, anchoring to holes and crevices, exploring the surroundings by protruding and elongating body parts, and retracting the body to escape predation.

In this way, MAPWORMS is landing the foundation for an unseen artery of robotics.

Biomimicry, smart materials and shape-morphing robots

This is the core of the MAPWORMS project and its future, ambitious evolutions: starting a novel paradigm of robotic systems, able to overcome the limitations of current state-of-the-art solutions by embedding responsivity in the constitutive materials of the machines.

Indeed, the main aim of MAPWORMS is developing a new concept of bioinspired robots qualified to fulfill tasks in response to environmental stimuli thanks to their smart materials. In particular, the robot will be able:

• to sense environmental cues;
• to morph its shape;
• to adapt to the environment.

The result is a completely autonomous robot capable of performing many different tasks, rather than a robot controlled by a central unit and able to execute specific tasks only in a pre-defined and structured environment, under detailed circumstances.

What did we take inspiration from? The marine Annelida able to adapt to all the marine habitats, even the extreme ones, by burrowing into sediments, anchoring to holes and crevices, exploring the surroundings by protruding and elongating body parts, and retracting the body to escape predation.

In this way, MAPWORMS is landing the foundation for an unseen artery of robotics.