FURI | Spring 2020

Anisotropic Friction in Soft Burrowing Robots

The research team has chosen soft robotics for a self-burrowing robot. A successful design requires to overcome the increasing amount of force that comes with burrowing into soil and the best way to complete this task is friction. Anisotropic friction on the surface of the robot improves anchoring so that going down will be a fluid motion. Tests have proven that the friction is increased in upward burrowing tests; the research team is now integrating the anisotropic friction features to achieve downward burrowing.