Plantoid is a plant root-inspired robot that merges technical solutions derived from the study of root growing, sensing capabilities, and tropism-behaviours. The robot consists of a trunk, a number of functional roots with sensorized apexes, and an aerial part with leaves (based on controllable hygromorphic plant-inspired material). All the roots are connected to a trunk that acts as a gateway to transfer data and configuration parameters to the external world.

Analogously to natural model, Plantoid has no central decision unit, but each artificial root integrates gravity,  temperature, humidity and tactile perception and has its own controller to acquire data from sensors and implement a tropism-like behaviour, meaning directional response in terms of bending and growth.

Plantoid has launched the new paradigm of "moving by growing" in robotics, giving rise to the new generation of robots able to grow and move in unstructured environments.

Sustainable Nutrition

• Agricultural crops monitoring
• Soil exploration

Challenging Environments

• Monitoring and exploration
• Rescue

Green Planet

• Green energy harvesting
• Environmental monitoring