Robot researchers claim seahorse tails can inspire stronger bots

Robot researchers at Oregon State University have found that a seahorse's unique bone structure may provide the answer to the problem of adding flexibility to stiff bots.

In a study published Friday in the journal Science, researchers list details about the odd sea animal's skeleton, focusing on bone plates surrounding its spine that are square instead of round. The plates, found primarily in a seahorse's flexible and strong tail, may inspire new robotic designs that will make controlling them easier.

Researchers studied the animal's skeletal structures by using 3D-printed replicas and prototypes.

"We found that this square architecture provides adequate dexterity and a tough resistance to predators, but also that it tends to snap naturally back into place once it's been twisted and deformed," said study co-author Ross Hatton, assistant professor in the College of Engineering at Oregon State University, in a press release. "This could be very useful for robotics applications that need to be strong, but also energy-efficient and able to bend and twist in tight spaces."

Hatton believes that incorporating "biological systems" can merge control and flexibility in engineered machines meant for surgery, search and rescue missions or industrial use. The seahorse's overall unorthodox structure initially attracted researchers to it.

"Human engineers tend to build things that are stiff so they can be controlled easily," Hatton said. "But nature makes things just strong enough not to break, and then flexible enough to do a wide range of tasks. That's why we can learn a lot from animals that will inspire the next generations of robotics."

The seahorse's tail is extremely resilient, able to absorb impact and resist fracture. Bony plates in the tail can snap back in place without effort after being crushed.

"Understanding the role of mechanics in these biologically inspired designs may help engineers to develop seahorse-inspired technologies for a wide variety of applications in robotics, defense systems or biomedicine," the study's conclusion read.