This research area is focused on the study of soft-bodied biological models like invertebrates (e.g. Cephalopoda) and protists. Octopus suction mechanics are investigated based on the sucker anatomy and function as well as on substrate properties, in order to extract the bio-inspired benchmark requirements for designing suction attachment mechanisms for microrobots. Sucker sensing system is also investigated to understand how touch cues are used in sucker function.

Unicellular organisms pertaining to amoeba (protists) are attractive from a robotic point of view because of their ability to move and engulf preys by protruding flowing extensions (pseudopodia). Their crawling mechanisms are studied with a biorobotic approach, in order to identify structures, components and actuation strategies that can be used to design soft microrobots capable of unstructured movement in the human body.