# 49. What Robots Can Learn from Starfish and Falcons

- Show: [The Next Byte Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast)
- Published: 2021-12-21
- Length: 25m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-12-21-49-what-robots-can-learn-from-starfish-and-falcons
- Listen: https://the-next-byte-wevolver.simplecast.com/episodes/49-falcon-inspired-drones-0gFxCC9A

## Summary

Hosts Daniel and Forbode discuss biomimicry in robotics, starting with a video of Grant Imahara visiting Carnegie Mellon University to explore bio-inspired robots like the snake robot. They then detail a starfish larva-inspired micro-robot developed at ETH Zurich that uses ultrasonic waves for targeted drug delivery, and a Peregrine Falcon-inspired drone landing system called 'Snag' developed by Stanford graduates at the University of Groningen.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-12-21-49-what-robots-can-learn-from-starfish-and-falcons#t=0) Introduction and Grant Imahara at Carnegie Mellon
- [3:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-12-21-49-what-robots-can-learn-from-starfish-and-falcons#t=194) Starfish Larva-Inspired Micro-Robot for Drug Delivery
- [11:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-12-21-49-what-robots-can-learn-from-starfish-and-falcons#t=666) Peregrine Falcon-Inspired Drone Landing System
- [18:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-12-21-49-what-robots-can-learn-from-starfish-and-falcons#t=1087) Snag System Performance and Applications

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Medical & health devices](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/medical-devices)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Grant Imahara (other)
- Carnegie Mellon University (company)
- ETH Zurich (company)
- University of Groningen (company)
- Stanford University (company)
- Snag (product)
- Mouser Electronics (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [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 107: Animal-inspired robot movement - Robert Siddall](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-01-31-episode-107-animal-inspired-robot-movement-robert-siddall) (Robot Talk)
- [Episode 68: Bat-inspired robots - Rolf Mueller](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2024-01-12-episode-68-bat-inspired-robots-rolf-mueller) (Robot Talk)
- [Episode 140: Robot balance and agility - Amir Patel](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-01-16-episode-140-robot-balance-and-agility-amir-patel) (Robot Talk)
- [Episode Fifty-Four: Robot Talk Live - Robotics and Science Fiction](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-06-23-episode-fifty-four-robot-talk-live-robotics-and-science-fiction) (Robot Talk)

## Citing this page

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