One name stands out among those pioneering robotics technology, the Laboratory of Intelligent Systems at EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne).

We have highlighted their work previously in When robots swarm, and 'swarming' is the cue for the theme of the following videos - robotic technology based on animal behaviours.

The animals inspiring robotic research include: lizards, dogs, fish and grasshoppers.

Salamander

Check out, for example, 'Salamandra Robotica' from our friends at EPFL, which can respond to wirelessly transmitted  commands to swim, walk or change direction.

Grasshopper

Next up is a grasshopper-inspired jumping robot, again from the labs at EFPL. Taking design cues from nature, the researchers have created a device that can jump as high as 1.4m, a staggering 27 times its height. Weighing 7gm, it uses a 0.6g pager motor to slowly charge two torsion springs before explosively releasing the energy. More information can be found on EDN, our American sister site.

Check out the video clip below;

Pack dog

Next one up is from Boston Dynamics and is of an order more sinister. Watch the "nimble quadrupedal pack robot" cross stony paths, climb a hill and negotiate snow, as well as carrying a load of 150lb. All the while displaying a clearly canine gait.

Fish

Finally, fish. A clip from the Essex Robotc Fish Press Day no less.

This work was carried out back in 2005, and more information on the research project can be found at http://cswww.essex.ac.uk/staff/hhu/jliua/videogal2.htm. Or you could visit robotic-fish.net/index.php. This site details a whole range of robotic advancements, from the carp koï (developed by Ryomei Engineering, a subsidiary company of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries) to the Jessiko, a small robotic fish presented at the European Robotics Cup in May 2007, which is the work of a French engineer, one Christophe Tiraby.