Importance

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Abstract

A multisegmented robot includes a first robot segment comprising a first layer of active material at least one of integral with, attached to or formed on a first layer of passive material; a second robot segment spaced apart from the first robot segment, the second robot segment including a second layer of active material at least one of integral with, attached to or formed on a second layer of passive material; and a tether connecting the first and second robot segments. The first and second layers of active material are each cyclically swellable and deswellable in response to a corresponding cyclically changing local environmental stimulus thereby causing each of the first and second segments to cyclically change shape, the first layer of passive material has a surface arranged such that at least a portion thereof contacts a surface over which the robot may crawl during the cyclically changing the local environmental stimulus, the second layer of passive material has a surface arranged such that at least a portion thereof contacts the surface over which the robot may crawl during the cyclically changing the local environmental stimulus, and the second robot segment has a greater frictional resistance to movement over a period of the cyclically changing local environmental stimulus than a frictional resistance to movement of the first robot segment over the period of the cyclically changing local environmental stimulus resulting in translational motion of the robot along a direction from the first robot segment to the second robot segment.

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First Claim