Origami Robots Inspired by the Wriggling of Earthworms
Over the past few years, we’ve started to see experimentation with unconventional robot designs. Soft robotics, for example, use flexible materials like silicone so that movement can be achieved pneumatically or with fluid pumps. A popular design method is to fill or empty bladder-like chambers to contract or expand parts of the robot. These designs are inspired by biological movement mechanisms, with the goal usually being to reproduce the efficiency found in nature.

Now a team of researchers from the Mechanical Science and Engineering department at University of Illinois have developed a technique similar to soft robotics, but which uses origami. Because it just uses paper (and 3D-printed parts), building robots with origami is a lot more affordable than soft robots made from silicone, and is quicker to prototype.
Their designs (two of which are showcased) take advantage of the flexibility of paper to provide interesting means of locomotion. Two origami columns (laid down horizontally) are twisted with motors, forcing them to contract or expand. That contraction and expansion can then be coordinated to inch the robot along, a lot like how an earthworm moves.
What’s especially impressive is the kinds of mechanisms that the researchers were able to create, just using origami. For example, a paper torque limiter was built for each origami column to keep it from tearing. The design of the origami structures was calculated mathematically, to ensure the flex and buckle of each part behaved as intended. Once the designs were finalized, the paper was laser cut for precise control over the resulting flat patterns.
We’re looking forward to seeing what else they come up with using the technique, and it’s sure to inspire makers to come up with their own origami robot designs!


