Jiarui Wang, a member of the Yang Lab, holds up one of these programmable knot robots with forceps showing how something not much bigger than a grain of rice can pack a serious punch in the world of soft, automated robotics. (Image: Courtesy of Penn Engineering)

by: John RussellPosted on: June 22, 2026June 22, 2026

Tiny, knotted robots jump, fly, and plant seeds

Researchers at Penn Engineering have developed tiny, soft robots using opposable materials that are capable of leaping meters into the air with flexibility, responsiveness, and programmability.

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