Biorobots Mimic Earth's First Land Walkers

Researchers at the University of Cambridge are developing "paleo-inspired" robots to mimic the movements of Earth's first land animals, aiming to understand the evolutionary transition from aquatic to terrestrial life. These robots, inspired by ancient fish and modern "walking fish" like mudskippers, are designed to simulate early vertebrate locomotion, providing insights into how fin structures evolved for land movement. This project, part of the university's Bio-Inspired Robotics Laboratory, represents a novel approach to studying evolutionary biology beyond traditional fossil analysis and computer simulations.