Octopuses Squeeze Through Gaps in Three Steps
A new study finds common and Mayan octopuses use a stepwise process to pass through tight openings, inspiring robotics research.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Robotics
Researchers published findings in the Journal of Experimental Biology showing juvenile common and Mayan octopuses squeeze through openings using a three-step process. Scientists tested the animals with a thin, clear plastic partition featuring an adjustable central hole.
Why it matters
The findings reveal how octopuses coordinate their eight limbs to navigate unpredictable tight spaces without a centralized brain directing each movement. Roboticist Wenci Xin of the National University of Singapore plans to use the behavior to design search-and-rescue robots that can move through confined areas.
The study observed a three-step squeezing sequence in a smaller common octopus and similar strategies in four Mayan octopuses and two larger common octopuses. The small sample size and juvenile focus leave open how broadly the behavior applies across the species.
The players
Wenci Xin
Wenci Xin is a roboticist at the National University of Singapore who plans to design search-and-rescue robots that mimic the octopus squeezing behavior.
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is the institution where roboticist Wenci Xin works on bio-inspired robot design.
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota is the institution of neuroethologist Trevor Wardill, who is associated with the octopus behavior research.
The details
In the experiment, one arm first scouted the opening, then more arms were extended through it, and finally the animal pushed its arms against the far side of the barrier to pull its body through. The octopus's eight arms are directed by a decentralized nervous system, which the researchers highlight as central to the maneuver.
Timeline
Study results were published in the Journal of Experimental Biology on Thursday, November 5, 2026.
Zoom In
The octopus findings extend the bio-inspired soft robotics work pursued at the National University of Singapore by offering a concrete behavioral model for navigating confined spaces. Engineers have long looked to animal locomotion for rescue robotics, and this study supplies a specific stepwise sequence that robot designers could translate into control strategies.
For people working in search-and-rescue and disaster response, robots that can move through tight, unpredictable spaces could eventually reach areas that are too confined for human responders. The concept is still in the design stage, so no near-term products or deployments are described in the study.
The takeaway
Animals such as octopuses solve movement problems through distributed control, and studying those solutions can guide engineers building robots for tight, hard-to-reach environments.
Further reading
For more on how animal movement is inspiring machines, explore our Robotics coverage.
