Engineers have harnessed the physics behind the flailing tube men to power a tiny soft “robot” capable of walking, hopping, and swimming. The key to the machine’s functionality and adaptability can be found in its set of four soft, tubular legs. Much like those dancing used car advertisements, the robot is powered by a continuous stream of air. “Sea stars, for example, coordinate hundreds of tube feet using local feedback and body dynamics, not a centralized brain,” said co-author Mannus Schomaker. Getting rid of delicate electronics could also allow mechanical machines to operate in extreme environments like space.