Photo credit: AMOLF via Hackster
Researchers at AMOLF, a Dutch institute focused on physics and materials science, have crafted a soft robot that walks, swims, and jumps using only air pressure and clever design—no electronics, no sensors, no software. It’s a stripped-down marvel that challenges what we assume robots need to function, and it’s fast, clocking speeds that rival a Ferrari in relative terms.
This robot, affectionately dubbed the “brainless soft robot” by onlookers, isn’t your typical high-tech contraption. It’s a squishy, air-filled structure that looks like a cross between a pool float and a science experiment.“We were inspired by how simple systems in nature, like corals or jellyfish, can move without a central control system,” says Johannes Overvelde, one of the lead researchers at AMOLF.
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The team went all-in on simplicity, crafting a robot that zips around using just air pressure and clever materials, no microchips in sight. It’s built from inflatable tubes that twist and bend when pumped with air, driven by bistable valves—little air gates that snap open or shut—to steer the airflow and keep it moving. They act like the robot’s decision-makers, directing air to specific tubes to trigger actions like stepping or jumping. “The beauty of this system is its simplicity,” says Bas Overvelde, another key researcher. “By carefully designing the geometry of the tubes and valves, we can program complex motions without any electronic control.” The result is a robot that can walk across a lab bench, swim through water, or leap into the air, all driven by a single air pump.
Speed is where this robot struts its stuff. The AMOLF team clocked it moving at up to 30 body lengths per second, a metric that puts it in the same league as some of nature’s zippiest creatures. For context, Hackster.io notes this outpaces the relative speed of a Ferrari, which tops out at about 20 body lengths per second. “We didn’t expect it to be this fast,” admits Johannes Overvelde. “The combination of lightweight materials and precise air control lets it move with surprising agility.” Watching it dart across a surface or propel itself through water feels like witnessing a living thing, even though it’s just silicone and air.
The potential applications are where things get really exciting. Because it’s so simple and doesn’t need electronics, this robot could thrive in harsh environments where traditional robots falter. Whether it be underwater exploration, where water and electronics don’t mix, or disaster zones, where reliability is everything, this robot is up for the task. “We see this as a platform for robots that can operate in places that are too dangerous or unpredictable for complex systems,” Johannes Overvelde explains.
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