A team of Harvard scientists reported in the journal Science about the invention of a new, 3D-printed robot. This robot has many exciting features like it has both soft and rigid body parts. Its body parts are molded on animal and insect designs. Also, this robot can jump without facing any injury and the best part is it can be easily managed by humans.

The robot is powered by butane and oxygen. As per the researchers, robot’s softness adds to the lifespan of it. Sharing reason behind choosing 3D printing, the researchers said, “Traditional molding-based manufacturing would be impractical to achieve a functionally-graded robot, you would need a new mold every time you change the robot's design”.

For them, 3D printing manufacturing was the best idea, as the researchers wanted their robot to have complex and layered body. Study’s first co-author Nicholas Bartlett from Wyss Institute at Harvard said that 3D’s another benefit is that its design can be quickly changed.

A robot made up of both, soft and rigid parts can jump with a great precision and also, survive the same. It is considered that the robot is the big achievement in the field of developing soft-bodied robots that can pass through tight spaces, cross hurdles and continue to give their best even in unpredictable terrain that is dangerous for humans.