North Carolina State University researchers unveiled a feather star-inspired underwater robot on October 7, 2026. The soft prototype uses four elastic wings and two pneumatic actuators to steer in 3D. It is still tethered for power and control, not autonomous.
In controlled tests, the researchers reported a peak speed of 1.64 body lengths per second and a maximum rotation rate of 90 degrees per second. Its movement relies partly on the wings’ shape and springiness, rather than onboard AI. The team aims to develop a wireless, autonomous version, but the reported results are for the tethered prototype.
