Multisegmented robots and networks of multisegmented robots

A multisegmented robot, comprising:

• a first robot segment comprising a first layer of active material at least one of integral with, attached to or formed on a first layer of passive material;
• a second robot segment spaced apart from the first robot segment, the second robot segment comprising a second layer of the active material at least one of integral with, attached to, or formed on a second layer of the passive material;
• and
• a tether connecting the first and second robot segments,
• wherein the first layer of the active material and the second layer of the active material are each cyclically swellable and deswellable in response to a cyclically changing local environmental stimulus thereby causing each of the first robot segment and the second robot segment to cyclically change shape,
• wherein the first layer of the passive material has a surface arranged such that at least a portion thereof contacts a surface over which the multisegmented robot may crawl during the cyclically changing local environmental stimulus,
• wherein the second layer of the passive material has a surface arranged such that at least a portion thereof contacts the surface over which the multisegmented robot may crawl during the cyclically changing local environmental stimulus, and
• wherein the second robot segment has a greater frictional resistance to movement over a period of the cyclically changing local environmental stimulus than a frictional resistance to movement of the first robot segment over the period of the cyclically changing local environmental stimulus resulting in translational motion of the multisegmented robot along a direction from the first robot segment to the second robot segment.