HOW THE CAMO-ROBOT WORKS:

The soft robot can be seen in the video walking on a bed of rocks, before being filled with fluid to match the color of the rocks and break up the robot’s shape. By introducing narrow channels into the molds through which air and various types of fluids can be pumped, the robot can be made to change its color, contrast, apparent shape and temperature to blend with its environment.

It can also glow through chemiluminescence, and most importantly, achieve movement through pneumatic pressurisation and inflation of the channels. At a pumping rate of 2.25 milliliters per minute, color change in the robot required 30 seconds. Once filled, the color layers require no power to sustain the color.

The robot moves at a speed of approximately 40 meters per hour - without the colored fluid, it can move at approximately 67 meters per hour. Future research will focus on smoothing the movements; however, speed is less important than the robot’s flexibility. Soft robots are useful because they are resilient and can maneuver through very constrained spaces.

(Source: Daily Mail)