'Squishy' robot fingers aid deep sea exploration
Wednesday, January 20, 2016 - 12:25
in Earth & Climate
Researchers have designed the first application of soft robotics for the non-destructive sampling of fauna from the ocean floor. Their recent expedition in the Red Sea successfully demonstrated the new technology, which could enhance researchers' ability to collect samples from largely unexplored habitats thousands of feet beneath the ocean surface, areas that scientists believe are biodiversity hotspots teeming with unknown life. The soft grippers also could be useful in underwater archaeology.