ArticlePloS one2014
A novel growing device inspired by plant root soil penetration behaviors.
Article in PloS one, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 32 papers.
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Who cites it
32 citing papers in PubMed.
- Vine-Inspired Soft Robotics: Materials, Actuations, and Emerging Applications.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2026Review
- Fibrous contextual embodiments formed by task-invariant continuous blow spinning in dynamic environments.Frontiers in robotics and AI · 2026Article
- Impact of soil compaction degree modulated by initial water content on maize root phenotype and hydraulic properties.Frontiers in plant science · 2026Article
- Bioinspired Drilling for Extraterrestrial Applications.Biomimetics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Tip-Growing Robots: Design, Theory, Application.IEEE transactions on robotics : a publication of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society · 2025Article
- A Pneumatic Flexible Linear Actuator Inspired by Snake Swallowing.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2024Article
- Lifetime-configurable soft robots via photodegradable silicone elastomer composites.Science advances · 2023Article
- A mechanical theory of competition between plant root growth and soil pressure reveals a potential mechanism of root penetration.Scientific reports · 2023Article
- Article
- Mole crab-inspired vertical self-burrowing.Frontiers in robotics and AI · 2022Article
- The Pellicle-Another Strategy of the Root Apex Protection against Mechanical Stress?International journal of molecular sciences · 2021Article
- Root Systems Research for Bioinspired Resilient Design: A Concept Framework for Foundation and Coastal Engineering.Frontiers in robotics and AI · 2021Review
- Passive Morphological Adaptation for Obstacle Avoidance in a Self-Growing Robot Produced by Additive Manufacturing.Soft robotics · 2020Article
- Regenerative robotics.Birth defects research · 2020Review
- Artificial Venus Flytraps: A Research Review and Outlook on Their Importance for Novel Bioinspired Materials Systems.Frontiers in robotics and AI · 2020Review
- Effect of Elicitors on Morpho-Physiological Performance and Metabolites Enrichment inFrontiers in plant science · 2020Article
- Pneumatic Coiling Actuator Inspired by the Awns ofFrontiers in robotics and AI · 2020Article
- Test Bench for Evaluation of a Soft Robotic Link.Frontiers in robotics and AI · 2020Article
- Mechanical Innovations of a Climbing Cactus: Functional Insights for a New Generation of Growing Robots.Frontiers in robotics and AI · 2020Article
- Plant Bioinspired Ecological Robotics.Frontiers in robotics and AI · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Moving in an unstructured environment such as soil requires approaches that are constrained by the physics of this complex medium and can ensure energy efficiency and minimize friction while exploring and searching. Among living organisms, plants are the most efficient at soil exploration, and their roots show remarkable abilities that can be exploited in artificial systems. Energy efficiency and friction reduction are assured by a growth process wherein new cells are added at the root apex by mitosis while mature cells of the root remain stationary and in contact with the soil. We propose a new concept of root-like growing robots that is inspired by these plant root features. The device penetrates soil and develops its own structure using an additive layering technique: each layer of new material is deposited adjacent to the tip of the device. This deposition produces both a motive force at the tip and a hollow tubular structure that extends to the surface of the soil and is strongly anchored to the soil. The addition of material at the tip area facilitates soil penetration by omitting peripheral friction and thus decreasing the energy consumption down to 70% comparing with penetration by pushing into the soil from the base of the penetration system. The tubular structure provides a path for delivering materials and energy to the tip of the system and for collecting information for exploratory tasks.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.