Yale researchers create a new amphibious turtle robot with shape-shifting limbs

Yale researchers create a new amphibious turtle robot with shape-shifting limbs

Source: interestingengineering

10/16/2022

Credit: Yale University

Yale University researchers in the U.S. have developed a new amphibious turtle robot that has the ability to transform its legs into flippers.

The amphibious robotic turtle, known as ART (Amphibious Robotic Turtle), was inspired by the land and aquatic turtles, a group whose fossil record dates back over 110 million years, according to a press release published by the university on Wednesday.

"Terrestrial and aquatic turtles share similar bodies, with four limbs and a shell, but have distinctive limb shapes and gaits adapted for their specific environment," said Rebecca Kramer-Bottiglio, the John J. Lee Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science and principal investigator of the study.

"Sea turtles have elongated flippers for swimming, whereas land turtles and tortoises have rounded legs for load bearing while walking."