A team of researchers from the University of Bristol's Faculty of Science and Engineering has unveiled a groundbreaking soft robot inspired by the octopus's unique nervous system architecture. Published in Science Robotics on May 14, 2025, the innovation demonstrates how biomimetic design can revolutionize autonomous robotics.
Led by Tianqi Yue, the team designed a simple yet intelligent robot that uses fluid flows of air or water to coordinate suction and movement, similar to how octopuses control their hundreds of suckers across multiple arms. Unlike traditional robots that rely on complex electronics and central processing units, this robot's intelligence is physically embodied in its structure.
"Last year, we developed an artificial suction cup that mimicked how octopuses stick to rocks using soft materials and water sealing," explains Yue. "This research brings that work forward, from using a suction cup like an octopus sucker to connect to objects to using 'embodied suction intelligence' - mimicking key aspects of the neuromuscular structure of the octopus in soft robotic systems."
The robot's suction intelligence operates at two distinct levels. At the lower level, coupling suction flow with local fluidic circuitry allows the robot to achieve octopus-like embodied intelligence, including gently grasping delicate objects and adaptively curling around items with unknown geometries. At the higher level, by decoding pressure responses from the suction cup, the robot can detect contact, classify its environment and surface roughness, and even predict interactive pulling forces.
This approach addresses a fundamental challenge in robotics: controlling systems with numerous degrees of freedom. Conventional robots require explicit programming for every possible scenario, making them computationally inefficient. The octopus, by contrast, uses a distributed control architecture that enables effective and computationally efficient arm control - a strategy now successfully implemented in this soft robot.
The technology has promising applications across multiple industries, from agriculture (gently handling delicate produce) to manufacturing and healthcare. As soft robotics research continues to grow - with related publications increasing by over 50% between 2021 and 2024 - this innovation represents a significant step toward creating robots that can safely and intuitively interact with humans and complex environments.