Octopuses possess an ability that engineers have been trying to replicate for decades: the capacity to move their arms in virtually any direction without relying on bones or rigid joints. Currently, researchers at the National University of Singapore are leveraging this capability to develop robots that can bend, navigate around obstacles, and reach locations inaccessible to conventional machines.

One such prototype has already been integrated into a drone, demonstrating an ability to pass through small openings, pick up objects, and collect liquid samples. The researchers developed continuous artificial muscles made from a metal alloy that contracts when heated by an electric current. Instead of requiring a separate motor for every movement, the system activates specific sections of these muscles, causing the arm to curve at precise points.

In one prototype, four artificial muscles were able to control six distinct regions of the arm—enabling movements that, in a conventional design, would require numerous separate mechanisms. Perhaps most compellingly, the scientists took this technology beyond the laboratory test bench: they constructed a 60-centimeter flexible arm—weighing approximately 450 grams, including its supporting equipment—that can be carried by a drone.

During testing, the system managed to achieve openings as small as 2 cm, pick up small objects, and collect liquid samples. The researchers are now working on another equally important challenge: enabling flexible robots to better perceive and control their own movements. In related research, teams from the same university have developed control systems capable of adapting to unexpected changes, as well as flexible sensors that translate pressure into mechanical responses.

While these technologies have not yet been integrated into a single, fully autonomous robot, they point to various ways of making machines more adaptable. In the future, such robotic arms could be used to inspect industrial equipment, reach hazardous areas during rescue operations, or even inspire medical instruments capable of navigating delicate spaces within the human body. For now, however, these prototypes still need to gain greater speed, strength, and reliability before they can be used outside of controlled environments.

This research highlights an interesting shift in robotics: rather than building increasingly rigid and powerful machines, scientists are drawing lessons from animals—which are capable of extraordinary movement precisely because their bodies are flexible. The inspiration, in short, comes from nature.