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Animals have long been one of the primary sources of inspiration for robotics researchers. This is because they rely on sophisticated biological mechanisms and locomotion strategies that could be artificially reproduced in robots to equip them with desired capabilities.

Caterpillars, the wormlike larvae that later develop into butterflies or moths, have also attracted the attention of many roboticists. Their elastic bodies and their ability to stick onto many types of surfaces allow them to move in complex natural environments and squeeze through narrow openings.

Caterpillars adapt their movements based on what they are crawling on, as they might not always adhere perfectly to each surface. Researchers at the University of Naples Federico II and the University of Palermo recently assessed how well caterpillars moved on wood, steel, slate and glass, observing how they coped with more challenging conditions.

The team improved a mathematical model introduced in one of their previous papers, which represents the body of caterpillars as masses connected by springs. Guided by the model, they then fitted real caterpillars with artificial armor to increase their body stiffness and added weights to improve friction and adhesion.

The results of the team's experiments led to the identification of strategies that could allow robots to attach themselves and move on various materials. Their paper, published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface , may guide the development of new nature-inspired soft crawling robots.

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