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• CU Boulder engineering Kaushik Jayaram has received $650,000 from the U.S. National Science Foundation and $1.4 million from the Air Force Research Laboratory to design tiny, insect-inspired and shapeshifting robots.

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Newswise — April 29, 2025--Kaushik Jayaram, assistant professor at CU Boulder, recently received a $650,000 grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation and a $1.4 million grant from the Air Force Research Laboratory to design small, shape-shifting robots. His previous designs include mCLARI, a four-legged robot that fits on a quarter and weighs less than half a penny.

Jayaram envisions a future where swarms of tiny robots, some weighing no more than a paperclip, will navigate confined spaces to perform tasks humans can't. These robots could inspect jet engines or underground conduits, searching for survivors or repairing components after disasters.

Inspired by insects, Jayaram aims to create robots that are both agile and adaptable. His lab's future robots will shapeshift and use pulses of electricity to walk up walls, mimicking the abilities of spiders. Jayaram also hopes to inspire young roboticists with origami kits that allow students to build their own bug-like robots.

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