In a significant advancement for soft robotics, University of Bristol researchers have developed a robot with octopus-inspired intelligence that can decide how to move and grip objects by sensing its surroundings.
Published in Science Robotics on May 15, 2025, the study showcases a simple yet sophisticated robot that uses fluid dynamics rather than complex electronics. The system enables the robot to grab delicate items, sense whether it's touching air, water, or rough surfaces, and even predict pulling forces—all without requiring a central computer.
"It's fascinating how a simple suction cup, with no electronics inside, can feel, think and act—just like an octopus arm," explains lead author Tianqi Yue, who previously developed an artificial suction cup mimicking how octopuses stick to rocks.
The innovation functions at two distinct levels. At the basic level, coupling suction flow with local fluidic circuitry allows the robot to achieve low-level embodied intelligence, including gently grasping delicate objects and adapting to items of unknown shapes. At a higher level, by decoding pressure responses from the suction cup, the robot achieves sophisticated perception, including environment classification and surface roughness detection.
This technology has numerous potential applications across industries. It could revolutionize agricultural harvesting by gently picking fruits, enhance manufacturing through careful handling of fragile items, anchor medical tools inside the human body, or create safer interactive toys and wearable tools.
The research team is currently working to make the system smaller and more robust for real-world applications. They also aim to combine it with smart materials and AI to improve its adaptability in complex environments, potentially leading to a new generation of robots that are safer, smarter, and more energy-efficient than current designs.