Air-Powered Robot Walks! – Using Physics, Not Electronics

Forget wires, chips, and code—this robot runs on nothing but air… and a clever bit of physics.

Created at the AMOLF institute in the Netherlands, this soft-bodied bot uses inflatable tube legs with a kink in each one. As air flows through, the kink travels down the tube—causing the leg to wobble and move, similar to those inflatable tube dancers you see outside car dealerships… but with a bit more purpose.

At first, the legs move in chaotic directions. But within milliseconds, they start syncing up—automatically—no computer required. The result? A surprisingly fast robot that can scoot along at 30 times its body length per second.

Even better, it adapts. Hit a bump, and the legs re-sync. Toss it in water, and it switches to a smooth swimming motion, like it was made for it.

No brain. No software. Just smart design that leverages the natural behaviour of materials. A reminder that sometimes, simple physics beats complex tech.

This tech could one day help with tasks from drug delivery to space exploration—anywhere electronics might struggle.

Not bad for a robot made of tubes.

And that’s your robot news update for today!
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