This research area aims at designing and developing a new generation of robotic systems, called plantoids, with distributed sensors and actuators and collective intelligence, for exploration tasks, by taking inspiration from and by implementing the amazing penetration and exploration capabilities of plant roots. Plants have developed specific growth responses (tropisms) to respond to changes in their environment and a network of highly sensorized branching root apices to efficiently explore the soil volume, mining minerals and up-taking water. The research is aimed at ultimately developing robotic artefacts composed of a network of sensorized and actuated roots, showing energy-efficient actuation, as well as rich sensing and coordination capabilities, and high sustainability, typical of the Plant World. Plant root behaviors (tropisms) are investigated to develop innovative cooperative models extending the paradigm of “swarm intelligence”.