Researchers at New York University’s Tandon School of Engineering have developed WorMa, a worm-like robot that can travel over rocks, slopes, and steps. It can also enter water, swim, and return to land. Its design takes inspiration from worms, which adjust their movement to different environments.
A pump moves water between containers in the robot’s head and tail. When more water is in the head, the front presses harder against the ground, giving it better grip for climbing. This also helps it pull itself out of water onto a slope. Moving water toward the tail makes swimming faster and more energy-efficient. To climb a step, WorMa shifts water backward to raise its front, then forward again once its head reaches the edge.
The team tested the robot on a course with flat ground, a step, a slope, and water. It kept the same basic wave-like movement throughout. Researchers are now working on faster pumps and controls that could detect changes in the ground or water and adjust the robot’s weight automatically.
