Meet the Team: RobOcto
Team RobOcto consists of 10 Bachelor students from the University of Twente who share a strong interest in space exploration and technology. The project focuses on developing a new way to capture and remove space debris, one of the major challenges facing modern space missions. The team has been selected in February 2026 for the ESA Academy Experiments Programme, and they will test their system in the Orbital Robotics Lab, which reproduces space-like motion in a controlled 2D environment.
Inspired by the octopus, RobOcto uses flexible robotic tentacles designed to adapt to objects of different shapes and surfaces in zero gravity. The concept builds on how octopus arms can safely grasp and manipulate objects underwater, an environment that shares similarities with space conditions. The team is developing a lightweight robotic gripping system powered by shape memory alloy (SMA) wires, which contract when heated.
The team is divided into two groups: one responsible for mechanical design and integration, and another focused on embedded systems, electronics, and programming.
The mechanical team is testing different materials and designs to improve how the tentacles grip irregular objects while keeping the structure lightweight. Each tentacle is made of 7–8 modular sections connected by snap-fit joints that allow flexible movement.
The electrical team is experimenting with SMA wires and Arduino-based test circuits to study contraction behaviour, overheating, and controllability. Different actuation concepts are also being explored, including routing SMA wires directly through the tentacle structure to move the arms more efficiently.
If you are interested in following the progress of the RobOcto team, their updates are posted on their LinkedIn page: linkedin.com/company/robocto-ut.