Seals' Intricate and Sensitive Whiskers Could One Day Help Robotics Navigate In the Dark

Description

Researchers at the University of Groningen studied how seals actively move (“whisk”) their whiskers to enhance sensing in dark underwater environments. By developing robotic whiskers using soft artificial muscles, they found that rhythmic whisking improves sensitivity while balancing energy use. The findings highlight how bioinspired design can lead to smarter, more efficient sensors for underwater and robotic applications.