Harvard swarm robots curl and crawl like entangled living worms

Harvard researchers led by Justin Werfel at the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have developed a novel swarm robotic system inspired by the behavior of California blackworms (Lumbriculus variegatus). These freshwater worms naturally form tightly entangled blobs that enable them to regulate temperature, protect against predators, and move cohesively. Mimicking this, the team created flexible, worm-like robots about a foot long, made from synthetic polymers with pressurized internal air chambers that allow them to curl and physically entangle with one another. This entanglement not only provides cohesion but also serves as a potential channel for mechanical communication and coordination among the robots. The entangled robotic swarm can move collectively over land and water, achieving tasks beyond the capability of individual units. The researchers aim to harness these emergent group dynamics for practical applications such as disaster zone exploration, navigation of irregular terrains, and manipulation of large objects. While current robots are individually powered and tethered, future iterations are planned