About me

I am Saravana Prashanth Murali Babu, Associate Professor in Soft Robotics for Sustainability at SDU Biorobotics, University of Southern Denmark. My research develops bioinspired soft robots that can crawl, burrow, swim, grasp, and assist human movement. Inspired by organisms such as earthworms, snails, fish, and cuttlefish, I investigate how morphology, compliant materials, sensing, and control can enable robots to adapt to complex and changing environments. My work spans terrestrial, underwater, subsurface, and wearable robotics, with applications in environmental monitoring, inspection, sustainable agriculture, healthcare, and exploration. A central focus of my research is Physical AI, where intelligence is distributed across the robot’s body, materials, sensors, control, and interaction with the environment. I received my PhD in Biorobotics with cum laude distinction from the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Italy, following studies in India and Taiwan. Alongside research, I teach, supervise students and researchers, and contribute to the robotics community through editorial work, peer review, conference organisation, and international collaboration.