A groundbreaking salamander-inspired robot called Pleurobot has been developed by EPFL researchers, showcasing an impressive ability to alternate seamlessly between walking and swimming. Built using x-ray data tracking 64 skeletal points, the robot replicates the distinctive gaits of the salamander species Pleurodeles waltl with remarkable accuracy in both 3D walking and aquatic motion. Its design features 3D-printed bones, 27 motors embedded along 11 body segments, and precise motor control that simulates biological movement.
Most robotics models rely on neural networks or artificial limbs, but Pleurobot follows a different route by modeling the salamander’s spinal cord system. This approach taps into the concept of central pattern generators—networks in the spinal cord that organize rhythmic movement—allowing the robot to switch from walking to swimming simply by adjusting a stimulation parameter, just like the real animal. Live Science also highlights that these spinal circuits are primarily responsible for gait control, underscoring how closely the robot mirrors its living counterpart. Live Science explains how the spinal cord model controls motion.
This biologically inspired model helps scientists study not only evolution, but also practical applications. By emulating spinal locomotion, engineers hope to advance the field of neuroprosthetics—designing devices that could one day help paraplegic patients regain movement. Roboticists and neurologists alike believe these insights could translate into better physical therapy, spinal implants, or exoskeletons guided by similar gaits. An arXiv paper on adaptive spinal-limb coordination offers a glimpse into how learning-based control strategies, such as reinforcement learning, can further refine amphibious robotic mobility. Explore adaptive gait control research.
Moreover, the precision achieved in mimicking undulatory locomotion — a wave-like launch of motion along the body seen in animals like salamanders — demonstrates how such robots can tackle complex terrain, both on land and underwater. According to a Wikipedia entry on undulatory locomotion, the ability to synchronize spinal and limb dynamics is essential to how animals transition between movement modes. This salamander-inspired robot isn’t just a technical marvel—it’s a tool for biological exploration and robotic advancement. Undulatory locomotion explained.
The creation of Pleurobot also carries evolutionary significance. Salamanders represent a living link to early tetrapods, the first spine-bearing creatures to walk on land. By replicating and analyzing their motor patterns, researchers gain insight into how vertebrates first adapted to shifting between aquatic and terrestrial movement. A report in Newsweek highlights this evolutionary context, noting how the robot helps scientists decode gait transitions from swimming to walking.
In the broader context of robotics, models like Pleurobot pave the way for multi-terrain exploration, environmental monitoring, and search-and-rescue missions in complex settings. By combining anatomical realism with spinal control mechanisms, this salamander-inspired robot represents a fusion of biology and engineering. It stands as a powerful example of how studying nature can inspire technologies that not only move like us, but help understand us better.
When robots mirror nature thoughtfully, they can illuminate our past—and shape our future.