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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

Bioinspired Soft Robot with Incorporated Microelectrodes

Bioinspired Soft Robot with Incorporated Microelectrodes

Published on: February 28, 2020

Armadillo-inspired active morphing skeletons for soft machines.

Jianyu Zhou¹, Weixin Zhou¹, Seol-Yee Jennifer Lee¹

¹Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.

Science Advances

|May 27, 2026

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Inspired by armadillos, this study introduces an active morphing skeleton (MIPM). This bio-inspired system offers adaptive shape change and robust protection for payloads in hazardous environments.

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Area of Science:

Robotics and Biomimetics
Materials Science
Mechanical Engineering

Background:

Nature exhibits sophisticated defense mechanisms, such as the armadillo's ability to form a protective sphere.
Engineered systems struggle to replicate concurrent adaptive morphology and robust mechanical protection.
Real-time sensing and coordinated skeletal structures are key to biological protection strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a bio-inspired active morphing skeleton mimicking natural protective strategies.
To create a Morpho-Interlocking Protective Module (MIPM) capable of adaptive shape change and protection.
To explore applications in robotics and protection of fragile payloads.

Main Methods:

Designed an architecture integrating a segmented exoskeleton and an interlocking endoskeleton.
Utilized a liquid crystal elastomer composite for muscle-like actuation and an embedded sensing layer for threat detection.
Implemented localized Joule heating for autonomous actuation and multimodal morphing behaviors (curling, rolling, grasping).

Main Results:

The MIPM demonstrated multimodal morphing capabilities without compromising structural integrity.
The system successfully protected fragile payloads under impact, puncture, and concentrated loading in harsh conditions.
Wireless, untethered operation was enabled via an integrated Bluetooth module.

Conclusions:

The MIPM presents a novel paradigm for concurrent morphing and protection, inspired by biological systems.
This bio-inspired design offers robust mechanical protection and adaptive morphology for various applications.
The technology has broad applicability in soft robotics, flexible electronics, and hazardous environment operations.