Imagine a boat that propels by moving its "tail" from side to side, just like a fish. That's the kind of machine that TED Fellow Robert Katzschmann's lab builds: soft-bodied robots that imitate natural movements with artificial, silent muscles. He lays out his vision for machines that take on mesmerizing new forms, made of softer and more lifelike materials -- and capable of discovering unknown parts of the world.

Robert Katzschmann: The future of machines that move like animals

The future of machines that move like animals

Envisioning a future where robots made of living muscle cells self-heal, mimicking the regenerative capabilities of human tissue.

Exploring the ocean with silent, biomimetic robots made of soft materials that mimic fish movements enhances aquatic research.

Innovative robotic design using artificial muscles, inspired by nature, promises quieter, safer interactions in sensitive environments.