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Moose hooves inspire robot feet

by Pieter Werner

Researchers at Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) have developed bio-inspired robotic feet modeled on moose hooves, enabling robots to traverse challenging terrains such as mud and wet snow more effectively. This innovation, detailed in the journal Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, has the potential to enhance robotic applications in environmental monitoring, agriculture, and disaster response in difficult-to-access areas like wetlands, bogs, and coastal marshes.

The study builds on longstanding research into legged robot locomotion, which has achieved improvements in energy efficiency and versatility. However, navigating terrains with unstable or slippery surfaces remains a significant challenge. According to Maarja Kruusmaa, Professor of Biorobotics and the project lead, these terrains are particularly problematic for both robots and animals. She noted that many important natural environments are currently inaccessible to robots due to these limitations.

The new design was inspired by the natural mechanics of moose hooves. Doctoral candidate Simon Pierre Godon, drawing on his experiences from a cattle farm in Berry, France, developed the concept of high-tech hooves. Moose hooves, with their cloven structure, expand and contract as they step into and out of mud. This action not only increases the surface area but also helps break the suction force of the mud, mimicking the effect of a suction cup. This adaptation prevents the animal—and now robots—from becoming stuck.

Laboratory tests with real moose hooves demonstrated their effectiveness, prompting researchers to replicate the mechanism using silicon feet for robots. Experiments on muddy surfaces showed that the bio-inspired design significantly reduced sinkage and suction forces while decreasing energy consumption by up to 70%. Furthermore, the researchers found no apparent disadvantages to the design and suggested that the split hooves could even improve stability on uneven terrains.

The findings highlight a practical and energy-efficient solution for enhancing robot mobility in challenging environments. Kruusmaa humorously noted that robots equipped with these feet should “keep their shoes on at all times.”

Photo: Centre for Biorobotics, Taltech (Simon Pierre Godon)

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