Bio-inspired functional recursion enables multi-mode locomotion in a 140-mg morphing microrobot

Researchers have developed a 140-mg insect-scale microrobot that can perform multi-mode locomotion, including aerial flight, terrestrial crawling, and water-surface gliding, as well as controlled immersion. This is achieved through a single morphing frame driven by shape-memory alloy muscles, demonstrating "functional recursion" to overcome mass constraints in miniaturized robotics.