Swiss Robot Transforms Shape to Tackle Varied Terrain
- tech360.tv
- Aug 12, 2025
- 2 min read
A shape-shifting robot developed by scientists at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) is offering a new approach to robotic movement by adapting its form to suit different environments.
The robot, named GOAT (Good Over All Terrains), can switch between a rover and a spherical configuration, allowing it to roll, swim and move forward efficiently across diverse terrains.
Developed by a team from EPFL’s Faculty of Engineering, GOAT is designed to mimic the adaptability of animals such as spiders, kangaroos, cockroaches and octopuses. It uses two crossed elastic fibreglass rods and four motorised rimless wheels to form its frame.
Two winch-driven cables act like tendons, pulling the frame into a ball shape when needed. The robot’s core, which houses a battery, on-board computer and sensors, is suspended in the centre and can carry a payload of up to 2 kg.
Josie Hughes, who led the project, said GOAT considers both the path and the mode of travel. “Instead of going around an obstacle such as a stream, GOAT can swim directly across it. If its path is hilly, it can roll downhill like a ball to save time and energy, then move forwards like a rover when it’s no longer advantageous to roll,” she said.
GOAT operates with minimal sensor equipment, using only satellite navigation and an orientation device. It does not rely on cameras or complex motor sensors.
Max Polzin, PhD student and first author of the study, said the robot’s reconfigurability allows it to exploit the environment with limited knowledge. It can find the path of least resistance without needing to know exactly what’s in its path.
The robot’s energy-efficient design and adaptability make it suitable for applications such as environmental monitoring, disaster response and space exploration.
GOAT robot developed by EPFL adapts shape to terrain
Switches between rover and spherical modes to roll, swim or move forward
Inspired by animals and built from low-cost materials
Source: SWISSINFO.CH
