Nina Sinatra with ultra-gentle soft robotic fingers and jellyfish. Source: Anand Varma

Researchers from the American Museum of National History found that soft robotic fingers can be used to conduct undersea research without stressing out delicate deep-sea animals. Jellyfish held by the ultra-soft robotic fingers were found to express fewer stress-related genes than when they were held by rough traditional grippers.

Jellyfish do not display discomfort through noise like other animals. Researchers have to analyze an animal's genes to find how they are reacting. During this study gene sequencing was used to measure the differences in jellyfish gene expression when swimming freely, when held by soft robot fingers or when gripped by the standard rigid claw.

Gently held jellies displayed gene expression similar to the same gene expression expressed when undisturbed. They were relatively calm when captured with the soft robot. The jellies caught by the rough claw expressed repair genes, which suggested that they were priming themselves for physical harm. Jellies are fragile organisms that are prone to stress.

In the past, deep-sea exploration has been rough on the environment and organisms. It has required ripping material from the seafloor or killing organisms to bring up to the surface to study. The soft robotics make it possible to take swabs of DNA and conduct medical checkups in real time with little physical impact.

Jellies were used as sample organisms, but the team believes the soft robotics are promising for deep-sea research of other delicate organisms. Soft robotics would also be useful for humans. They could be used to harvest delicate fruits, rehabilitate muscles of stroke patients and more. Soft robotics can do many things that rigid bodies robots are too chunky or overpowered to do.

A paper on this research was published in Current Biology.