Biokinetics in robotics: Design and development of gripping systems inspired by the octopus

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61117/ipsumtec.v9i2.472

Keywords:

Controlers, CNC, drivers, engines, octopus

Abstract

A research and implementation of a theoretical prototype developed in research centers was carried out. The project was derived from collecting different proposed models, most of them theoretical since the implementation hadn’t been carried out due to a wide range of difficulties such as lack of resources. First, information regarding the octopus was gathered, focusing on how the tentacles work, which was what we wanted to replicate in the prototype. Some things had to be improved during the development process; a clear example was the improvement of the three pulleys used for the contraction mechanism that acts on specific points of the arm. Finally, the results obtained were satisfactory since the movement and handling of heavy objects could be done without overloading the arm’s motors, giving us a good grip and range of flexibility. An analysis was done of the materials that could improve the prototype, such as motors with higher performance than the ones used.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Author Biographies

Erandi Abdiel Santiago Pérez , National Technological Institute of Mexico

Santiago Pérez Erandi Abdiel Electronics engineering student at the National Technological Institute of Mexico with an outstanding track record in innovation. In May 2025, I took third place in the Electrorally competition (La Salle Institute of Oaxaca) for a device designed to detect contaminants in water that I developed as part of a team. Later, in May 2026, I participated in the Innovatec institutional competition, presenting a real-time, internet-free livestock tracker based on LoRA technology.

Rosa Isabel Hernández Sánchez , Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation

Dr. Rosa Isabel Hernández Sánchez. Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Chemical Engineering from TECNM Oaxaca. Master’s and Ph.D. in Science, specializing in the Conservation and Use of Natural Resources, from CIIDIR-IPN, Oaxaca Unit. Postdoctoral fellow in hydrogeophysics; currently a researcher for Mexico at SECIHTI.

 

Héctor Javier Jarquin Flores , National Technological Institute of Mexico

Héctor Javier Jarquín Flores is a faculty member in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at TecNM–Oaxaca Institute of Technology. He holds a Master of Science in Engineering, and his research interests focus on grid-connected photovoltaic systems, smart energy management, and electromobility. His research focuses on the optimal sizing of battery-based storage systems and on evaluating the performance of lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries.

Isaias Velasquez Cruz, National Technological Institute of Mexico

Isaias Velasquez Cruz. Bachelor of Science in Electronics, Instrumentation, and Control; Master of Science in Electronic Engineering; industrial experience at Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma, CIVESA, Grupo Apasco, and CRODE Orizaba; currently a professor at the Oaxaca Institute of Technology.

Martin Vidal Reyes , National Technological Institute of Mexico

Martin Vidal Reyes is a professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the Technological Institute of Oaxaca, in Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca, Mexico. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, a Master’s degree in Education with a focus on Teaching and Research, and a Master of Science in Engineering. He has conducted and collaborated on research projects in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

References

F. Montes, "Brazo inspirado en un pulpo: biomímesis," LinkedIn. 14-jul-2026. [En línea]. Disponible en: https://es.linkedin.com/posts/fredericmontes_brazo-inspirado-en-un-pulpo-biomimesis-activity-7342593520802672640-MtA-. [Accedido: 14-jul-2026].

"Brazo robótico con forma de tentáculo de pulpo," Norte Bonaerense. 24-dic-2023. [En línea]. Disponible en: https://nortebonaerense.com.ar/2023/12/24/brazo-robotico-con-forma-de-tentaculo-de-pulpo/. [Accedido: 14-jul-2026].

"Pulpos robots: brazos flexibles," Muy Interesante. [En línea]. Disponible en: https://muyinteresante.okdiario.com/tecnologia/pulpos-robots-brazos-flexibles-estudio.html. [Accedido: 14-jul-2026].

J. A. V. S. et al., "Modelado y diseño de manipuladores robóticos," Robotics, vol. 12, no. 10, p. 377, oct. 2023. [En línea]. Disponible en: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0825/12/10/377. [Accedido: 14-jul-2026]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/act12100377

"USTC develops an octopus tentacle robot," Sango Robot. [En línea]. Disponible en: https://www.sango-robot.com/news/ustc-has-developed-an-octopus-tentacle-robot-t-17261495399687168.html. [Accedido: 14-jul-2026].

"Desarrollan brazo biónico inspirado en pulpos," N+. 2024. [En línea]. Disponible en: https://www.nmas.com.mx/ciencia/como-en-spider-man-desarrollan-brazo-bionico-inspirado-en-pulpos/. [Accedido: 14-jul-2026].

"Tentáculo robótico inspirado en los del pulpo," Noticias de la Ciencia. 2024. [En línea]. Disponible en: https://noticiasdelaciencia.com/archive/11469/tentaculo-robotico-inspirado-en-los-del-pulpo. [Accedido: 14-jul-2026].

A. M. O., "Impacto de la inteligencia artificial en el desarrollo tecnológico," La Vanguardia, 30-abr-2026. [En línea]. Disponible en: https://www.lavanguardia.com/neo/ia/20260430/11525401/meta-despedira-mas-700-empleados-entrenaban-sistemas-inteligencia-artificial-basicamente-entrenar-ia-sustituya.html. [Accedido: 14-jul-2026].

"Brand new USTC robot arm that resembles octopus," Reddit. 2026. [En línea]. Disponible en: https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/1hx8z53/brand_new_ustc_robot_arm_that_resembles_octopus/. [Accedido: 14-jul-2026].

"Preparan el primer robot totalmente flexible," Nova Ciencia, 03-abr-2009. [En línea]. Disponible en: https://www.novaciencia.com/2009/04/03/preparan-el-primer-robot-totalmente-flexible/. [Accedido: 14-jul-2026].

"El robot con tentáculos que puede atrapar, manipular o reparar objetos," Infobae, 16-feb-2022. [En línea]. Disponible en: https://www.infobae.com/america/tecno/2022/02/16/el-robot-con-tentaculos-que-puede-atrapar-manipular-o-reparar-objetos-como-otras-naves-o-satelites/. [Accedido: 14-jul-2026].

"Innovador brazo robótico chino se inspira en elefantes y pulpos," Emprendedor. [En línea]. Disponible en: https://emprendedor.com/innovador-brazo-robotico-chino-se-inspira-en-elefantes-y-pulpos-video/. [Accedido: 14-jul-2026].

"Un brazo robótico a lo Doctor Octopus es capaz de aprender movimientos," Xataka. [En línea]. Disponible en: https://www.xataka.com/robotica-e-ia/un-brazo-robotico-a-lo-doctor-octopus-es-capaz-de-aprender-movimientos. [Accedido: 14-jul-2026].

"Harvard has created robotic octopus arm," Root-Nation. [En línea]. Disponible en: https://root-nation.com/es/noticias-es/es-harvard-ha-creado-brazo-robotico-tentaculos/. [Accedido: 14-jul-2026].

"Robotic octopus arms," Yahoo Tech. [En línea]. Disponible en: https://tech.yahoo.com/general/articles/robotic-octopus-arms-sort-creepy-220014627.html. [Accedido: 14-jul-2026].

C. Laschi, M. Cianchetti, B. Mazzolai, and P. Dario, "Soft Robotics: Technologies and Systems Inspired by the Octopus," Soft Robotics Journal, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 3-15, Mar. 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/scirobotics.aah3690

A. Bhalkikar, J. M. Smith, and R. N. Patel, "Kinematic mesh and geometric modeling for segment-discretized continuum robots," Mechanism and Machine Theory, vol. 194, p. 101289, Apr. 2024.

L. Hernández-Ibarra, J. A. Gómez, and M. A. Mendoza, "Thermal analysis and step-loss characterization in open-loop tendon-driven continuum manipulators," arXiv preprint arXiv:2607.25071, Jul. 2023.

X. Fei, Y. Liu, and Z. Wang, "Input Shaping Control and Input Saturation Algebraic Methods for Continuum Soft Robot Trajectories," IEEE Transactions on Robotics, vol. 41, pp. 112-126, Jan. 2025.

Y. Wang, T. Zhang, and H. Liu, "Tendon Tension Optimization and Dual-Mechanical Tensioning in Low-Cost Cable-Driven Continuum Manipulators," MDPI Robotics, vol. 13, no. 9, p. 128, Sep. 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/robotics13090128

Z. Sheng, L. Bristol, and K. Octopus, "Fluidic Distributed Control and Passive Tactile Sensing via Water-Driven Actuators in Soft Manipulation," Science Robotics, vol. 10, no. 42, p. eadi7525, Feb. 2025.

Published

2026-07-30

Crossmark

Crossmark Policy Page

How to Cite

Santiago Pérez , E. A., Hernández Sánchez , R. I., Jarquin Flores , H. J., Velasquez Cruz, I., & Vidal Reyes , M. (2026). Biokinetics in robotics: Design and development of gripping systems inspired by the octopus. REVISTA IPSUMTEC, 9(2), 14–32. https://doi.org/10.61117/ipsumtec.v9i2.472

Issue

Section

Artificial Intelligence, Data, and Automation

Most read articles by the same author(s)