Engineers turn discarded lobster shells into robotic parts that lift, grip, and swim
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Engineers have developed a new class of biohybrid robots by repurposing discarded lobster shells into functional robotic components capable of lifting objects, gripping delicate items, and swimming through water.
The work demonstrates how food waste can become a resource for environmentally friendly robotics.
Biohybrid robots combine biological materials with engineered systems.
In this case, engineers used the leftover exoskeletons of lobsters. These shells naturally consist of rigid plates connected by flexible membranes, which allow movement and provide strength. The team softened the shells by infusing them with a soft elastomer. They then attached small motors and coated the modified shells in silicone to increase durability.
According to the research team, the lobster tail segments were turned into robotic joints, gripper fingers, and swimming fins.
In laboratory tests, a single modified shell could lift around 500 grams. When two shell segments were used together, the gripper could handle items ranging from pens to tomatoes. The engineers also built a small swimming robot powered by shell-based fins. The fins flapped in the water and propelled the robot at a speed of about 11 centimetres per second.
The researchers say using waste shells gives the design an eco-friendly advantage. The shells provide structure while the synthetic components can be removed and reused, supporting a circular approach to robotics. They describe the work as a proof of concept showing that discarded biological material can be part of future robot design.
Challenges remain before this technology can be used outside the lab.
Each lobster shell is slightly different, which means two gripper fingers made from different tails bend in uneven ways. This makes precise control more difficult and limits the consistency of performance. The team notes that these variations are a major hurdle for scaling up the technology.
Even so, the study highlights a new direction for robotics by turning dead biological matter into useful machine parts.