Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have developed CLARI, an insect-inspired miniature robot capable of squeezing through tight spaces to aid search and rescue. CLARI can rearrange its body to become thinner and navigate narrow horizontal gaps.

Created by engineering PhD student Heiko Kabutz and associate professor Kaushik Jayaram, CLARI (Compliant Legged Articulated Robotic Insect) builds on their prior cockroach robot that flattened itself vertically. The four-legged CLARI has a square overhead silhouette made of four connected, flexible shell sections.

Each section contains an independent circuit and leg with two actuators enabling forward/backward and side-to-side motion. This allows each leg to move independently.

By default, CLARI retains its square shape for optimal speed and stability in open areas. However, upon encountering obstacles, it can reshape into a longer, narrower profile, reducing width from 34 mm to 21 mm.

While currently tethered, future wireless versions could autonomously navigate challenging environments using sensors. Researchers also aim to miniaturize CLARI while adding more legs for increased maneuverability.

As Kabutz explains, "When we try catching an insect, it can disappear into a crevice. But with spider or fly-capable robots, we can add cameras and explore previously inaccessible spaces."

CLARI demonstrates bio-inspired robotics' potential for search and rescue applications, squeezing through gaps impassable for humans or larger drones. Its compact reconfigurable design provides a template for developing specialized robots capable of accessing extremely confined spaces.

Paired with sensors, CLARI's descendants could scout rubble and disaster sites to quickly locate survivors. This pioneering work shows that radical adaptability, not just miniaturization, is key to optimizing future rescue robots. By mimicking the flexibility of insect bodies, CLARI underscores new possibilities for life-saving technology.