An artist's rendering of the robot. Source: NASA
Other research teams have developed squid-inspired devices dating as far back as 2006. But what’s interesting about this robot from Cornell University (other than the fact that it’s an awesome-looking space-bound gadget, of course) is its tentacle structures. They act like electrodynamic tethers that harvest power from local magnetic fields, while also serving to propel the device.
“The electrical energy scavenged from the environment powers all rover subsystems, including one that electrolyzes H20,” research engineer Mason Peck wrote in a statement to NASA. “Electrolysis produces a mixture of H2 and O2 gas, which is stored internally in the body and limbs of this rover. Igniting this gas expands these internal chambers, causing shape change to propel the rover through fluid or perhaps along the surface of a planetary body.”
Another rendering. Source: NASA
The technology, developed by Peck and Robert Sheperd, would essentially bypass the need for traditional battery-powered devices, large solar arrays and nuclear power.
“The rover architecture we propose to create uses EDTs to electrolyze water into H2 and O2 because it is an efficient way to use resources from an environment where solar power and nuclear power may be unusable,” explained Peck, adding that the device “will harvest energy from EDTs in the form of electricity and use it to power soft robots pneumatically and via combustion.”
Another cool aspect is the rover’s skin, which will be stretchable and electroluminescent to allow for underwater imaging. Peck and Sheperd will be working on their project over the next nine months. After that time period, they will be eligible to apply for another NASA award that could provide the duo with an additional $500,000.
The squid-inspired robot is being commissioned as part of the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program. Read about the initiative and some of the other unique technologies here.