Transformable thin-film robots capable of crawling, rolling, and oscillation AITranslate

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DOI：https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmt.2022.101514

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Limited by their size, small-scale robots are usually simple in structure and unable to achieve various motions to adapt to changing environments with a single control method. The emergence of multi-motion transformable actuators based on one stimulus provides a solution to this problem. Here, we report novel photothermal bimorph actuators that generate deformation based on asymmetric thermal expansion of the bilayer structure combined with a shape memory material having heat shrinkage properties. These photothermal actuators can be transformed simply by heating or illumination to achieve different shapes and functions. Furthermore, an actuator was made into a light-driven transformable small-scale robot with the capacity of multiple types of motion. Driven by light alone, the robot can transform from a crawling robot moving at a speed up to 2.28 mm s−1 to one rolling at 6.9 mm s−1 and further to a spontaneously oscillating one with a frequency of 3 Hz. These results demonstrate a promising approach to realize multiple functions and motions in one actuator, as well as a small-scale robot using only one control method. Graphical abstract A transformable soft robot with the capacity of crawling, rolling, and oscillation was prepared by combining a shape memory material having heat shrinkage properties with bimorph actuators. Driven by light, the robot can transform from a crawling robot moving at a speed up to 2.28 mm s−1 to one rolling at 6.9 mm s−1 and further to a spontaneously oscillating one with a frequency of 3 Hz Download : Download high-res image (85KB) Download : Download full-size image .