Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a snail-like robot capable of crawling on vertical walls and moving across ceilings.
The snail robot is designed to explore and demonstrate mathematical theories that explain the movement of snails, as well as to study their adhesive capabilities on various surfaces. Through the development of this robot, researchers hope it will have practical applications in the robotics industry.
To move, the snail utilizes the contraction of its individual legs. These legs adhere to surfaces using a secreted mucus. The snail contracts the muscles of its legs from the back and pushes forward. A thin layer of mucus ensures that the snail sticks to the wall while preventing it from sliding backward.
When pressure is applied to the front of the legs, the snail expands and moves its head slightly from its original position. This allows the snail to move smoothly in any direction by rotating its head.
The engineers have simulated this process. They created a robot with legs on its belly (similar to a gastropod) consisting of five movable segments beneath it. Each segment moves along a groove mechanically attached to its soft body. After all these segments move, the entire body of the robot advances forward, and each leg segment returns to its original position.
The snail robot has been tested on an inclined surface coated with a thin layer of lubricant approximately 1.5 mm thick made of Laponite. As the research team increased the angle of the testing platform, the robot continued to move and was capable of descending. This research team has published their findings in the November issue of the journal Physics of Fluids.
The team also developed a mathematical theory to determine the optimal lubricant and the mechanical parameters of this robot. These coefficients are essential for assessing the robot’s adhesive capabilities on surfaces. Anette Hoso, the lead researcher, stated that the next generation of this snail robot will be a faster and more maneuverable version.
