# BeetleBot combines artificial muscles and finger control to move objects

_Published Sunday, October 25, 2026 at 6:05 AM EDT · Robotics, Science · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

![BeetleBot could find use in tasks such as inspecting narrow spaces that are difficult for people to reach, and retrieving small items — Primary](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/d8bee45/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2484x1304+0+176/resize/1200x630!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com%2Fec%2Fb1%2Fbb235e3247b0bc75532eed511057%2Ffigure2.jpeg&na.image_optimisation=0)

Researchers demonstrated a beetle-inspired robot that navigated turns, gripped an object and transported it in laboratory tests. New Atlas reports that BeetleBot combines artificial muscles with a finger-worn control patch, a camera and a gripper pressure sensor.

Its 3D-printed liquid crystal elastomer muscles shorten by 45% when heated. Finger movements change the patch's electrical resistance, allowing an operator to command forward movement, left and right turns, and gripping while receiving live camera images.

The muscles require temperatures of 110 °C to contract. Generating that heat consumes substantial energy, and the researchers aim to improve energy efficiency and response speed.

## Sources

- [New Atlas: Technology-Innovation-Outdoor News](https://newatlas.com/robotics/beetlebot-robotic-beetle/)

---
Canonical: https://techandbusiness.org/newswire/JIMp03yKuOBaYKVWsASQNX
Published: 2026-10-25T10:05:54.163Z
Story chronology: 2026-10-25T09:03:00.000Z
Retrieved: 2026-10-25T12:31:07.794Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)