Pressure is higher, conditions are dire, under the sea!
This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science.
Deep sea robots face many challenges. The cold and the pressure down below squishes their soft materials, and the bots struggle to move.
Guorui Li and team from Harbin Engineering University are diving deep for better alternatives.
Their solution? A special solvent that allows electricity to power fluid movement in soft plastic. They call it ‘electrohydraulics.’
Even under intense conditions, the robot was able to move forward, turn, and swim continuously for two hours! They can even propel themselves with robotic fish tails!
These flexible droids navigate complex environments, handle unexpected disturbances, and frankly… they sound like much better pets than goldfish.
Reference: Li, G. Shen, P. Wong, TW. Liu, M. Sun, Z. Liu, X. Chen, Y & et al. (2025). Plasticized electrohydraulic robot autopilots in the deep sea. Science Robotics. Vol.10, issue 105. DOI:10.1126/scirobotics.adt8054