# Light-powered soft robot repeatedly jumps without manual resetting

_Published Monday, September 28, 2026 at 9:40 PM EDT · Robotics, Science · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

![One of the "soft ring jumper" robots makes an impressive leap — Primary](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/c2a1db8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2133x1120+0+132/resize/1200x630!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com%2Fec%2F99%2F1ecc813b4a74bb5d39ec065857ae%2Fjie-yin-jumping-ring-header-full.jpg&na.image_optimisation=0)

North Carolina State University researchers demonstrated a soft ring robot that can repeatedly jump while infrared light shines on it. The light contracts a cord and stores twisting energy; a small aluminum stopper then snaps against the ground to launch the robot. The cord returns to shape during the jump, preparing it for the next one.

Changing the stopper's angle makes the device crawl, jump forward three body lengths or leap upward 80 body heights. The researchers say the self-resetting motion is a fundamental advance, but they identify no immediate application.

## Sources

- [New Atlas: Technology-Innovation-Outdoor News](https://newatlas.com/robotics/elastic-robot-jump-infrared-light/)

---
Canonical: https://techandbusiness.org/newswire/5GnidC5lRQd90WBL_XA4TT
Published: 2026-09-29T01:40:40.991Z
Story chronology: 2026-09-28T02:43:49.000Z
Retrieved: 2026-09-29T03:57:52.310Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)