---
title: "New Hybrid Robot Has Soft ‘Skin’ But Hard ‘Guts’"
description: "The 3D-printed bot has hard insides but a soft exterior, and this blend of materials makes it much better at explosion-powered jumps than droids that are either completely hard or completely soft."
date: "2015-07-03"
modified: "2015-08-13"
authors:
  - name: "Alex Klokus"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/alex-klokus"
url: "https://futurism.com/new-hybrid-robot-has-soft-skin-but-hard-guts"
categories:
  - "Robotics"
  - "Robots and Machines"
tags:
  - "robotics"
---

# New Hybrid Robot Has Soft ‘Skin’ But Hard ‘Guts’

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/hybrid-robot.jpeg>)

- Hard robots are vulnerable to breaking, and soft robots are slow, weak, and clumsy. Now, scientists have created a robot made up of both hard and soft parts that combines the best of both types. The idea of blending soft and hard materials in a robot's body came from nature.
- The researchers created the new robot using 3D printing, which creates items by layering materials such as rubber and plastic. The robot consists of a soft, three-legged body that absorbs impacts and a core that houses key components such as a battery, oxygen cartridge, butane cell, air compressor and a combustion chamber.
- Such leaping robots could one day come in handy in harsh environments too dangerous for humans, including space.

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexklokus>)