# Episode Seventeen – Bioinspired Robots: learning from nature

- Show: [Robot Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk)
- Published: 2022-06-13
- Length: 44m
- Episode: 17
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-06-13-episode-seventeen-bioinspired-robots-learning-from-nature
- Listen: https://ukrobotics.libsyn.com/episode-seventeen-bioinspired-robots-learning-from-nature

## Summary

Valentina Lo Gatto, a PhD student at the Bristol Robotics Lab, explains her jellyfish-inspired soft robot and salt-inspired colony robots designed for exploring subsurface oceans on moons like Europa. David Hardman, a PhD student at the University of Cambridge, discusses bio-inspired soft sensors and biodegradable gelatin-based materials for agricultural and medical applications. Adrian Thomas, founder of Animal Dynamics, describes how his company uses bio-inspiration to design the 'Stork' cargo drone and 'Skeeter Dragonfly' surveillance drone, focusing on aerodynamic efficiency and control bandwidth derived from animal flight.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-06-13-episode-seventeen-bioinspired-robots-learning-from-nature#t=7) Introduction: Bioinspired Robotics Overview
- [1:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-06-13-episode-seventeen-bioinspired-robots-learning-from-nature#t=79) Valentina Lo Gatto: Jellyfish and Salt-inspired Robots
- [4:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-06-13-episode-seventeen-bioinspired-robots-learning-from-nature#t=241) Valentina Lo Gatto: Space Probe Design for Europa
- [14:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-06-13-episode-seventeen-bioinspired-robots-learning-from-nature#t=843) David Hardman: Soft Sensors and Artificial Skin
- [19:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-06-13-episode-seventeen-bioinspired-robots-learning-from-nature#t=1195) David Hardman: Biodegradable Gelatin Materials
- [26:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-06-13-episode-seventeen-bioinspired-robots-learning-from-nature#t=1594) Adrian Thomas: Animal Dynamics and Stork Drone
- [34:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-06-13-episode-seventeen-bioinspired-robots-learning-from-nature#t=2060) Adrian Thomas: Skeeter Dragonfly and Control Bandwidth
- [40:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-06-13-episode-seventeen-bioinspired-robots-learning-from-nature#t=2403) Adrian Thomas: Certification and Industry Misinformation

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Bristol Robotics Lab (company)
- University of Cambridge (company)
- Animal Dynamics (company)
- Stork (product)
- Skeeter Dragonfly (product)
- DSTL (company)
- Civil Aviation Authority (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [49. What Robots Can Learn from Starfish and Falcons](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-12-21-49-what-robots-can-learn-from-starfish-and-falcons) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [35. The Feisty Crustacean That Inspired A New Generation of Super Robots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-09-14-35-the-feisty-crustacean-that-inspired-a-new-generation-of-super-robots) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [75. Size Matters: Tiny Biomimicry Leads to Big Breakthroughs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-06-21-75-size-matters-tiny-biomimicry-leads-to-big-breakthroughs) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [189: The Squishiness Factor](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-03-02-189-the-squishiness-factor) (Embedded.fm)
- [133. Mighty Morphing All Terrain Robots Made By Nature](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-08-01-133-mighty-morphing-all-terrain-robots-made-by-nature) (The Next Byte Podcast)

## Citing this page

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