Robot Starfish Uses A.I. to Find the Best Path Underwater

A robotic starfish can find the most optimal way through the water, thanks to a machine-learning system from researchers at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL) . Made from silicon foam, the soft robotic starfish moves with a single low-powered actuator. The starfish has tendons in its four legs, which are connected to a servo motor that’s used to flex and relax the legs.

The machine-learning model performs an initial simulation and design of the control mechanisms of the robot, which is then rapidly fabricated. Real-world experiments with the robot are then used to acquire more data to repeatedly improve and optimize its design.