Robots Designed Like Animals

Humans have become remarkably skilled at building machines that imitate the structure and movement of animals.

What sets these creations apart, however, is their purpose—they are designed to serve human needs. By studying how animals move and behave, engineers have developed robotic creatures that can handle tasks ranging from surveillance to exploration. Here are five fascinating examples of robots modeled after living organisms.

Jollbot

Although it lacks the legs of a grasshopper, Jollbot can leap in a similar way. Designed by Rhodri Armour at the University of Bath, this spherical robot can roll across uneven terrain and hop over obstacles using a lightweight, spring-based framework. Motors tighten internal springs, which then release energy to propel the robot nearly two feet into the air. Its ability to move efficiently across rough surfaces makes it a potential candidate for planetary exploration. Jollbot was created using rapid prototyping techniques, where layers of plastic are built up to form a 3D structure.

RoboSwift

Modeled after the swift—a bird known for spending most of its life in flight—RoboSwift is a small, highly agile flying robot. Its wing design can be adjusted mid-flight using a push-rod system, similar to how real swifts alter their wings when chasing insects. While its wings do not flap like those of true ornithopters, its shape closely resembles a bird, making it difficult to detect from a distance. Developed under the guidance of Dr. David Lentink at Wageningen University, the project aims to eventually equip RoboSwift with GPS and cameras for autonomous flight.

Robofish

At the University of Washington, researchers have created robotic fish capable of communicating with one another underwater. These robots move using fins, closely mimicking real fish. Roughly the size of a medium salmon, they are designed to monitor underwater environments, such as tracking pollution or observing aquatic life that is difficult to study directly.

Robotic Fly

Recreating something as small and complex as a housefly is a major engineering challenge. After nearly ten years of development, scientists at Harvard succeeded in building a micro-robot that replicates the flight of a fly. Weighing only 60 milligrams with a wingspan of about 3 centimeters, this tiny robot could be useful in search-and-rescue missions or reconnaissance in hard-to-reach places. The main challenge ahead is fitting sensors, power sources, and control systems into such a compact design.

AirJelly and AquaJelly

Festo, a German engineering company, has designed two robots inspired by jellyfish movement. The AirJelly floats using a helium-filled chamber and is powered by just two lithium-polymer batteries, representing progress toward lighter-than-air flight technologies. Its underwater counterpart, AquaJelly, operates autonomously and uses infrared LEDs to communicate with other robots and docking stations within a short range. Together, these designs showcase how fluid, natural motion can be translated into robotic systems.

These animal-inspired robots demonstrate how nature continues to guide innovation, helping engineers create machines that are both efficient and versatile.