Engineering company Pliant Energy Systems has developed a Velox robot that can navigate using fins. Thanks to the new technology, the manipulator is able to effectively slide on the ice and move in undulating movements on hard surfaces.
The idea to create Velox came from the head of Pliant Energy Systems, Pietro Filardo, when he was researching renewable energy sources, among them - wave energy.
The expert studied biomorphic gadgets, with the help of which you can not only get energy, but also drive vehicles in the marine environment. So, the company created a robot that moves only with the help of flexible fins - their movement is controlled by an embedded processor.
Velox is able to navigate through the water, and as soon as it approaches land, it turns its fins 90 degrees, turns into an all-terrain vehicle, and continues to move on hard surfaces.
The robot is able to move on sand, snow, pebbles, pavements and ice. According to Filardo, due to its technology of movement, Velox can be used in various ways. For example, in the future, the robot will be able to transport medicines and ammunition by water or to participate in scientific research in the polar regions.