A Bagworm-Inspired Robot That Acquires Its Exterior from External Environments.

Abstract

In this research, we propose a bagworm-inspired robot that can acquire its exterior by incorporating various objects from the surrounding environment into its skin. This study was inspired by the bagworm, the larva of the giant bagworm moth, which wraps itself around straw and other materials to use as a nest. When the robot is active outdoors, it is surrounded by natural materials such as sand, fallen leaves, and pieces of wood, and can change its skin by attaching or detaching these materials as needed. In the previous study, the authors developed a camouflage robot that assimilates with the outside world by incorporating natural environmental sand. In this study, by using a water-soluble adhesive as the adhesive material, it is possible to take in a larger number of external substances than before. We also conducted experiments with natural materials, including leaves and pebbles, and confirmed that the robot could pick them up. We expect that by developing these functions, robots will not only have camouflage capabilities but also the ability to reinforce their own skin like bagworms.