Squishy Bots Could Solve the World’s Tightest Problems

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In disaster zones, first responders often face collapsed buildings, tight crawlspaces, and dangerous debris that humans, drones, and even rescue dogs can’t access. Meanwhile, in hospitals, surgeons need tools capable of navigating the human body with extreme precision and minimal damage. To tackle these challenges, scientists are developing a surprising solution: soft-bodied, shape-shifting robots.

Researchers at places like MIT and Carnegie Mellon have built bots that can stretch, squeeze, and even temporarily liquefy using heat, air, or magnetic fields. One inflatable, vine-like robot, dubbed “SPROUT,” can snake through rubble to locate survivors. Another, made of magnetic gallium, can melt, escape a cage, and re-solidify, making it ideal for future use in minimally invasive medical procedures.

While they might sound like something out of Terminator 2, these squishy, programmable bots are real and could soon be innovative in search and rescue, disaster response, and healthcare.

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Written by Guy Baroan 
By: Guy Baroan