Understanding elephant trunks could be a breakthrough for robotics
CNN
Elephants' trunks are capable of grasping a single blade of grass but can also carry nearly 600 pounds. They are inspiring the next generation of bio-inspired robots.
Researchers backed by the European Union's Horizon 2020 innovation program are doing a deep-dive study on elephant trunks, with the aim of improving the future of robotics, materials science and biology. Elephants' trunks are both delicate and sturdy -- they are capable of grasping a single blade of grass but can also carry nearly 600 pounds. And scientists argue that these versatile trunks -- called proboscis -- are incredible inspiration for the next generation of bio-inspired robots.
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