Researchers at Harvard are testing a robotic snake to find out more about how a snake ’s movements propel it along the ground in order to replicate its movements with similar “ soft robot ” coverings . The robot uses no rigid materials and researchers used a Japanese paper craft technique called kirigami to shape its surface , which was fitted around an expanding and contracting actuator to make the “ snake ” move . ” fellow scientist Rafsanjani said : “ Kirigami principles can be integrated into soft robots to achieve locomotion in a way that is simpler , faster , and cheaper than most previous techniques . ”
Researchers at Harvard are testing a robotic snake to find out more about how a snake’s scales propel it along the ground in order to replicate its movements with similar “soft robot” coverings. The robot uses no rigid materials and researchers used a Japanese paper craft technique called kirigami to make its surface, which was fitted around an expanding and contracting actuator to make the “snake” move. Engineering fellow Ahmad Rafsanjani said: “Kirigami principles can be integrated into soft robots to achieve locomotion in a way that is simpler, faster, and cheaper than most previous techniques.”