# 35. The Feisty Crustacean That Inspired A New Generation of Super Robots

- Show: [The Next Byte Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast)
- Published: 2021-09-14
- Length: 22m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-09-14-35-the-feisty-crustacean-that-inspired-a-new-generation-of-super-robots
- Listen: https://the-next-byte-wevolver.simplecast.com/episodes/35-the-shrimp-thatll-enable-super-robots-chSsF_0j

## Summary

Hosts Daniel Scott Mitchell and Farbod Moghaddam discuss biomimicry in robotics, starting with a Harvard team's creation of a 1.5-gram robotic actuator that mimics the mantis shrimp's two-latch mechanism to achieve 60 mph acceleration. They then cover research from Carnegie Mellon University's Biohybrid Organic Robotics Group (BORG), led by Professor Victoria Webster Wood, where PhD student Wen Huan developed tunable collagen tendons using electrocompaction and AI to create biodegradable, biohybrid robots for environmental safety.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-09-14-35-the-feisty-crustacean-that-inspired-a-new-generation-of-super-robots#t=0) Introduction: Biomimicry and the 100th Episode
- [1:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-09-14-35-the-feisty-crustacean-that-inspired-a-new-generation-of-super-robots#t=94) Mantis Shrimp Cavitation and the Two-Latch Mechanism
- [4:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-09-14-35-the-feisty-crustacean-that-inspired-a-new-generation-of-super-robots#t=244) Harvard's 1.5-Gram Robotic Actuator and Applications
- [12:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-09-14-35-the-feisty-crustacean-that-inspired-a-new-generation-of-super-robots#t=733) Carnegie Mellon's Biohybrid Organic Robotics Group (BORG)
- [16:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-09-14-35-the-feisty-crustacean-that-inspired-a-new-generation-of-super-robots#t=961) Wen Huan's Tunable Collagen Tendons and AI Framework
- [20:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-09-14-35-the-feisty-crustacean-that-inspired-a-new-generation-of-super-robots#t=1230) Future Bio-printing and Environmental Applications

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Harvard (company)
- Carnegie Mellon University (company)
- BORG (other)
- SawStop (product)
- Westworld (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 147: Miniature living robots - Maria Guix](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-03-06-episode-147-miniature-living-robots-maria-guix) (Robot Talk)
- [Episode Seventeen – Bioinspired Robots: learning from nature](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-06-13-episode-seventeen-bioinspired-robots-learning-from-nature) (Robot Talk)
- [Episode 102: Soft robots inspired by plants - Isabella Fiorello](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2024-12-13-episode-102-soft-robots-inspired-by-plants-isabella-fiorello) (Robot Talk)
- [Episode Forty-Seven: Helmut Hauser](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-05-05-episode-forty-seven-helmut-hauser) (Robot Talk)
- [Episode 135: Robot anatomy and design - Chapa Sirithunge](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-11-28-episode-135-robot-anatomy-and-design-chapa-sirithunge) (Robot Talk)

## Citing this page

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