I build robots that move like worms—here's what I've learned

After spending years developing a human-sized surgical laser robot, Dr. Jessica Brugner-Kahrs happened upon a conference presentation that changed her life—and the entire field of robotics. The idea was to build robots with soft curves, small enough to go up your nose and operate on your brain. Over more than a decade, Jessica developed this idea into a class of robots called "continuum" robots, revolutionizing the way we think about what robots can do. Along the way Jessica battled loneliness, personal doubt, and skeptical colleagues, ultimately discovering that creative ideas require community support to develop and grow.