Snail-inspired swarm robots demonstrate reconfigurable cooperation

Researchers at the Robotics and AI Lab at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Shenzhen, have developed a swarm of spherical, snail-inspired robots capable of real-time self-reconfiguration to solve physical transport challenges. In a key demonstration, five identical robots collaboratively formed a temporary, articulated ramp by stacking four units vertically to bridge a gap between two platforms, allowing a fifth robot to climb to a higher surface. This structure is dynamically assembled and dismantled as needed, enabling the swarm to maintain both collective functionality and individual mobility without relying on fixed mechanisms or external aids. The robotic system, detailed in a recent Nature Communications paper, addresses a common trade-off in ground-based robotic swarms between mobility and structural stability. Each “snail bot” features two connection modes inspired by land snail behavior: a free mode using magnet-embedded tracks for mobility and moderate connections, and a strong mode employing vacuum-based suction with polymer stalks for robust adhesion and load-bearing. This hybrid approach allows the swarm to rapidly switch