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Octopus Robot Mimics Nature's Master of Disguise
6 Dec
Summary
- Soft robot Octoid mimics octopus movement and color-changing abilities.
- It uses photonic crystal polymer for advanced camouflage and flexibility.
- Potential applications include deep-sea rescue and military systems.
Scientists in South Korea have unveiled Octoid, a soft robot designed to emulate the behavior of an octopus. This advanced robot can change its colors and move in a fluid manner, closely resembling its natural counterpart. The innovation lies in its "triple-in-one" system, which integrates movement, color alteration, and prey capture capabilities.
The core of Octoid's functionality is its photonic crystal polymer material. This nanostructured substance manipulates light to produce a spectrum of colors, enabling the robot's sophisticated camouflage. Researchers successfully controlled Octoid's color shifts from blue to green to red using electrical signals that induce microscopic expansions and contractions.
This development represents a significant leap in biomimetic soft robotics. The team envisions Octoid's technology being applied across various sectors, including autonomous adaptive robots, military camouflage, marine exploration, and medical micro-robots. The research was published in Advanced Functional Materials on October 15, 2025.
