World’s thinnest robot tram climbs wires, moves like screw to carry tiny payloads

North Carolina State University engineers have created a light-powered soft robot that moves along aerial cables like a tiny tram. The bracelet-shaped device is made from twisted liquid-crystal elastomer and travels autonomously when exposed to infrared light. It can carry payloads over 12 times its weight, climb steep slopes, and navigate complex cable routes including spirals and curves. This technology could potentially be used for power line inspection, agricultural monitoring, or disaster relief cargo delivery in the future.