How a Jumping Microrobot Rethinks Robotics

Fascination with Robotics How a Jumping Microrobot Rethinks Robotics

2025-04-18 From Sandro Kipar | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

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In our section “Fascination with Robotics,” we present extraordinary robots to you once a month. Today: A jumping robot for crisis areas.

The wings of the robot provide additional lift and stabilize it in the air.(Image: Melanie Gonick, MIT) — The wings of the robot provide additional lift and stabilize it in the air.
(Image: Melanie Gonick, MIT)

The future of mobility fits on a coin—and hops. What began as an experiment at MIT could soon establish itself as a key technology for automated inspection and rescue systems in hard-to-reach environments. The new hopping microrobot, developed at the renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is a fascinating harbinger of where mobile robotics is headed: compact, efficient, specialized.

Miniature with Maximum Effect

Just about as big as a human thumb and lighter than a paperclip—that's all it takes according to MIT researchers to make great leaps in robotics. Behind this miniaturization lies an engineering feat that deserves a closer look: The robot is powered by a single spring-based leg mechanism that allows it to jump up to 8 inches high—four times its body height. Four tiny wing modules provide stability, alignment, and additional freedom of movement.

The researchers placed particular importance on energy efficiency during the construction. In an MIT blog post, the technology is explained as follows: When the robot hops, it converts potential energy—derived from its height above the ground—into kinetic energy as it falls. This kinetic energy is converted back into potential energy upon impact with the ground, then into kinetic energy again as it ascends—and so on. While conventional drones or flying microrobots quickly reach energetic limits, the hopping robot scores with its low power consumption and high efficiency. Each jump is calculated, targeted, and thus economical.

Applications with Depth

Why would you build a hopping robot in the first place? The answer lies in the field of application. In search and rescue missions, such as after earthquakes or explosions, emergency crews often have to comb through debris at great personal risk. Large robots fail in tight spaces, and flying systems are often too energy-intensive or prone to interference. This is where the MIT model comes into play: In the future, there could be entire swarms of tiny robots autonomously hopping through narrow gaps—equipped with sensors, cameras, or measuring instruments. This movement principle would also be ideal for industrial inspections in pipe systems, reactors, or machine housings.

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Date: 08.12.2025

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