--- title: "Snail-Inspired Robot Takes on Microplastic Pollution" id: "2855" type: "post" slug: "snail-inspired-robot-takes-on-microplastic-pollution" published_at: "2023-12-08T14:11:12+00:00" modified_at: "2023-12-07T21:55:45+00:00" url: "https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2023/12/snail-inspired-robot-takes-on-microplastic-pollution-002855/" markdown_url: "https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2023/12/snail-inspired-robot-takes-on-microplastic-pollution-002855.md" excerpt: "In a bid to combat microplastic pollution in aquatic environments, scientists have drawn inspiration from an unlikely source – the Hawaiian apple snail. This innovative venture has resulted in the creation of a robot prototype designed to scoop up microplastics..." taxonomy_category: - "3D Printing/Additive Manufacturing" - "Design" - "Process" - "Recycling" - "Sustainability" - "Trending" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Cornell" - "Microplastic" - "Ocean Plastic" - "Pollution" - "Recycling" - "Robots" --- [Home](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/) » [News](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/news/) » [Process](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/c/process/) » [3D Printing/Additive Manufacturing](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/c/process/3d-printing-additive-manufacturing/) » Snail-Inspired Robot Takes on Microplastic Pollution # Snail-Inspired Robot Takes on Microplastic Pollution Inspired by a small and slow snail, scientists at Cornell have developed a robot protype that may one day scoop up microplastics from the surfaces of oceans, seas and lakes. Courtesy of Cornell UniversityIn a bid to combat microplastic pollution in aquatic environments, scientists have drawn inspiration from an unlikely source – the Hawaiian apple snail. This innovative venture has resulted in the creation of a robot prototype designed to scoop up microplastics from the surfaces of oceans, seas, and lakes. The Hawaiian apple snail, scientifically known as Pomacea canaliculate, served as the muse for this cutting-edge robot. Found commonly in aquariums, this snail employs the undulating motion of its foot to generate water surface flow, enabling it to draw in floating food particles. Conventional plastic collection devices primarily rely on drag nets or conveyor belts to capture and remove larger plastic debris from water. However, these methods lack the precision required to retrieve microplastics – tiny particles that can infiltrate marine life, pose health risks, and even become carcinogenic to humans. According to the United Nations Economic and Social Council, plastic waste constitutes a staggering 80% of all marine pollution, with an annual influx of 8 to 10 million metric tons into the ocean. Enter [Sunghwan “Sunny” Jung](https://cals.cornell.edu/sunghwan-sunny-jung) , a professor in the Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). Inspired by the snail’s unique feeding technique, Jung and his team developed a prototype, outlined in their study titled “Optimal free-surface pumping by an undulating carpet,” published in Nature Communications. While the robot prototype requires scaling up for practical deployment, it showcases a promising approach. Utilizing a 3D-printed, flexible carpet-like sheet with a helical structure, the robot mimics the snail’s undulating motion, creating a traveling wave on the water’s surface. Crucial to the research was the analysis of fluid motion to understand the pumping behavior. Unlike closed systems requiring high energy inputs, the snail-inspired open system proved more efficient. The prototype, although small in scale, operates effectively on a mere 5 volts of electricity while efficiently drawing in water. As the researchers explore scaling up the prototype for real-world application, the study underscores the importance of innovative, fine-scale retrieval mechanisms for addressing microplastic pollution. This interdisciplinary effort involves Anupam Pandey, the paper’s first author and former postdoctoral researcher in Jung’s lab, alongside co-authors from various institutions. Funded by the National Science Foundation, this research marks a significant stride at the intersection of biology, engineering, and environmental science, promising a cleaner, more sustainable future. By **[Plastics Engineering](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/author/pe-anonymous/)** | December 8, 2023 ##### [Plastics Engineering](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/author/pe-anonymous/) [+ postsBio ⮌](#) ### Other posts you could read [April 17, 2026Conveying PCR: Reducing Fines, Angel Hair, and Scrap](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/conveying-pcr-reducing-fines-angel-hair-and-scrap-011052/) [April 15, 2026Advancing Sustainable Printed Electronics](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/advancing-sustainable-printed-electronics-011032/) [April 24, 2026Emerging Markets for Polyolefins in the Solar Industry](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/emerging-markets-for-polyolefins-in-the-solar-industry-011128/) [April 10, 2026In Vivo Plastic Waste Upcycling](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/in-vivo-plastic-waste-upcycling-010935/) [April 9, 2026FlexForum 2026 Brings Flexible Packaging Leaders to Fort Myers](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/flexforum-2026-brings-flexible-packaging-leaders-to-fort-myers-011346/) [April 8, 2026Recycled Carbon Fiber from Automotive Waste](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/recycled-carbon-fiber-from-automotive-waste-010930/) [April 28, 2026IKV Colloquium 2026: The Journey of Research and Industry](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/ikv-colloquium-2026-the-journey-of-research-and-industry-010989/) [April 6, 2026The Debut of the SPE IMPACT Awards](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/the-debut-of-the-spe-impact-awards-011102/) ### One comment Join the discussion and tell us your opinion. 1. AMBAsays: [December 14, 2023 at 8:47 am](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2023/12/snail-inspired-robot-takes-on-microplastic-pollution-002855/#comment-185) This a very remarkable step in the cleaning of our marine life. kudos [Reply](#comment-185) ## Leave A Comment [Cancel reply](/2023/12/snail-inspired-robot-takes-on-microplastic-pollution-002855/#respond) - [https://twitter.com/share?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=2855&text=Snail-Inspired+Robot+Takes+on+Microplastic+Pollution&via=Plastics_Mag](https://twitter.com/share?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=2855&text=Snail-Inspired+Robot+Takes+on+Microplastic+Pollution&via=Plastics_Mag) - [https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=2855&t=Snail-Inspired+Robot+Takes+on+Microplastic+Pollution](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=2855&t=Snail-Inspired+Robot+Takes+on+Microplastic+Pollution) - [https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=2855&title=Snail-Inspired%20Robot%20Takes%20on%20Microplastic%20Pollution&summary=In+a+bid+to+combat+microplastic+pollution+in+aquatic+environments%2C+scientists+have+drawn+inspiration+from+an+unlikely+source+%E2%80%93+the+Hawaiian+apple+snail.+This+innovative+venture+has+resulted+in+the+creation+of+a+robot+prototype+designed+to+scoop+up+microplastics+from+the+surfaces+of+oceans%2C+seas%2C+and+lakes.&source=Plastics+Engineering](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=2855&title=Snail-Inspired%20Robot%20Takes%20on%20Microplastic%20Pollution&summary=In+a+bid+to+combat+microplastic+pollution+in+aquatic+environments%2C+scientists+have+drawn+inspiration+from+an+unlikely+source+%E2%80%93+the+Hawaiian+apple+snail.+This+innovative+venture+has+resulted+in+the+creation+of+a+robot+prototype+designed+to+scoop+up+microplastics+from+the+surfaces+of+oceans%2C+seas%2C+and+lakes.&source=Plastics+Engineering) - [https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=2855&title=Snail-Inspired+Robot+Takes+on+Microplastic+Pollution](https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=2855&title=Snail-Inspired+Robot+Takes+on+Microplastic+Pollution) - [/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7e410d0b1c141b1d0a432e121f0d0a171d0d5e3b101917101b1b0c1710195e535e2d101f17125337100d0e170c1b1a5e2c111c110a5e2a1f151b0d5e11105e33171d0c110e121f0d0a171d5e2e1112120b0a171110581c111a0743160a0a0e0d445151090909500e121f0d0a171d0d1b101917101b1b0c17101950110c1951410e434c464b4b](/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7e410d0b1c141b1d0a432e121f0d0a171d0d5e3b101917101b1b0c1710195e535e2d101f17125337100d0e170c1b1a5e2c111c110a5e2a1f151b0d5e11105e33171d0c110e121f0d0a171d5e2e1112120b0a171110581c111a0743160a0a0e0d445151090909500e121f0d0a171d0d1b101917101b1b0c17101950110c1951410e434c464b4b) - [1](#comments)