Flailing tube man-inspired robot uses no electronics

Engineers have harnessed the physics behind the flailing tube men to power a tiny soft "robot" capable of walking, hopping, and swimming. Plus their motion mechanism doesn't need software, sensors, or any form of artificial intelligence. But even with its relative simplicity, the robot's creators hope the new design will one day find its way into everything from smart pills to space technology. The research is detailed in a study published May 8 in the journal Science. The key to the machine's functionality and adaptability can be found in its set of four soft, tubular legs.