Adaptive Soft Pneumatic Robot Inspired by Locomotion of Snake

Pneumatic soft robots have garnered widespread attention for their flexibility and adaptability in various applications. However, existing soft robots generally struggle to effectively navigate diverse terrains, especially when it comes to climbing obstacles. This paper introduces an adaptive pneumatic soft robot designed based on snake-like locomotion, which effectively addresses this issue. The robot utilizes four corrugated tubes as its soft actuators, complemented by silicone-made feet with bidirectional friction anisotropy, enabling it to adapt to various terrains and exhibit climbing capabilities. Experiments demonstrate that the robot can traverse different surfaces such as sand, gravel, and slopes, and can climb obstacles up to 20 centimeters high. Additionally, it features a self-regulation mechanism that allows it to recover from accidental overturns. This study presents a soft robot design with multi-terrain adaptability and self-recovery capabilities.