UC Berkeley researchers debut EMBUR (EMerita BUrrowing Robot), a unique robot inspired by Pacific mole crabs. Hannah Stuart, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, and Ph.D. student Laura Treers demonstrate one of the first legged robots that can self-burrow vertically, the way Pacific mole crabs bury themselves in beach sand. (Video by Adam Lau/Berkeley Engineering)

Cinematography & Production: Adam Lau
Additional Footage:
Josh Cassidy / KQED
Ben McInroe / PolyPedal Lab
Laura Treers / Embodied Dexterity Lab
Swamp Works / NASA
Sound Design: Adam Lau
Music: A Living Machine / Schwartz Sound
Collaborators & Co-authors: Robert Full & Ben McInroe / PolyPedal Lab
• Biological study of live mole crabs that informed robot design and control