Engineers Turn Lobster Shells Into Robot Parts That Lift, Grip and Swim

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Crustacean waste gets a second life in robotics

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What if yesterday’s seafood dinner could help build tomorrow’s robots? Engineers have found a surprisingly elegant answer by transforming discarded lobster shells into functional robotic parts capable of lifting, gripping, and even swimming. It’s an idea that blends biology, engineering, and sustainability — without trying to be flashy about it.

The work comes from researchers at EPFL in Switzerland, who looked closely at how lobster shells are naturally designed. Each shell combines rigid plates with flexible joints, giving lobsters strength without sacrificing movement. Instead of reinventing that structure, the engineers decided to reuse it. The result is a biohybrid material that already knows how to bend, flex, and recover.

By reinforcing the shells with soft elastomers, adding small motors, and sealing them with silicone, the team turned lobster tail segments into working robotic joints. In testing, a single modified shell could lift around half a kilogram. Pair two together, and they form a gripper delicate enough to hold a tomato, yet strong enough to grab everyday objects like tools or pens.

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