# 133. Mighty Morphing All Terrain Robots Made By Nature

- Show: [The Next Byte Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast)
- Published: 2023-08-01
- Length: 21m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-08-01-133-mighty-morphing-all-terrain-robots-made-by-nature
- Listen: https://the-next-byte-wevolver.simplecast.com/episodes/133-mighty-morphing-all-terrain-robots-made-by-nature-iFVG6cXk

## Summary

Hosts Daniel and Forbode discuss the M4, a bio-inspired multimodal robot developed by Caltech and NASA JPL that can fly, roll, walk, and tumble using eight different modes of locomotion. They highlight how the robot's AI autonomously selects the best traversal method based on terrain, drawing inspiration from nature such as birds and sea lions. The episode also covers Jonathan Schultz of Team Huge, whose BattleBots design philosophy of accessible core components parallels the M4's adaptive engineering, while exploring applications in space exploration, emergency rescue, and last-mile delivery.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-08-01-133-mighty-morphing-all-terrain-robots-made-by-nature#t=0) Introduction: M4 Robot and Team Huge
- [1:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-08-01-133-mighty-morphing-all-terrain-robots-made-by-nature#t=112) Jonathan Schultz and Team Huge's BattleBots Design
- [4:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-08-01-133-mighty-morphing-all-terrain-robots-made-by-nature#t=287) M4: Caltech and NASA JPL Collaboration
- [8:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-08-01-133-mighty-morphing-all-terrain-robots-made-by-nature#t=517) M4's Eight Modes of Locomotion and AI
- [12:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-08-01-133-mighty-morphing-all-terrain-robots-made-by-nature#t=757) Bio-inspired Design: Birds and Sea Lions
- [16:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-08-01-133-mighty-morphing-all-terrain-robots-made-by-nature#t=998) Applications: Space, Rescue, and Last-Mile Delivery

## Topics

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

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- M4 (product)
- Caltech (company)
- NASA JPL (company)
- Mouser Electronics (company)
- BattleBots (other)
- Boston Dynamics (company)
- Starship Robotics (company)
- Amazon (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 Thirteen – Robot evolution: survival of the fittest](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-01-28-episode-thirteen-robot-evolution-survival-of-the-fittest) (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 122: Bio-inspired flying robots - Jane Pauline Ramos Ramirez](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-05-23-episode-122-bio-inspired-flying-robots-jane-pauline-ramos-ramirez) (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)

## Citing this page

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