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Wang X, Pan C, Xia N, Zhang C, Hao B, Jin D, Su L, Zhao J, Majidi C, Zhang L. Fracture-driven power amplification in a hydrogel launcher. NATURE MATERIALS 2024:10.1038/s41563-024-01955-4. [PMID: 39043929 DOI: 10.1038/s41563-024-01955-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
Robotic tasks that require robust propulsion abilities such as jumping, ejecting or catapulting require power-amplification strategies where kinetic energy is generated from pre-stored energy. Here we report an engineered accumulated strain energy-fracture power-amplification method that is inspired by the pressurized fluidic squirting mechanism of Ecballium elaterium (squirting cucumber plants). We realize a light-driven hydrogel launcher that harnesses fast liquid vapourization triggered by the photothermal response of an embedded graphene suspension. This vapourization leads to appreciable elastic energy storage within the surrounding hydrogel network, followed by rapid elastic energy release within 0.3 ms. These soft hydrogel robots achieve controlled launching at high velocity with a predictable trajectory. The accumulated strain energy-fracture method was used to create an artificial squirting cucumber that disperses artificial seeds over metres, which can further achieve smart seeding through an integrated radio-frequency identification chip. This power-amplification strategy provides a basis for propulsive motion to advance the capabilities of miniaturized soft robotic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Chengfeng Pan
- The State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
| | - Neng Xia
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Chong Zhang
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Bo Hao
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Dongdong Jin
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin Su
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinsheng Zhao
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Carmel Majidi
- Soft Machines Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
- Multi-Scale Medical Robotics Center, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin NT, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
- CUHK T Stone Robotics Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
- Chow Yuk Ho Technology Center for Innovative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
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Jung Y, Kwon K, Lee J, Ko SH. Untethered soft actuators for soft standalone robotics. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3510. [PMID: 38664373 PMCID: PMC11045848 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47639-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Soft actuators produce the mechanical force needed for the functional movements of soft robots, but they suffer from critical drawbacks since previously reported soft actuators often rely on electrical wires or pneumatic tubes for the power supply, which would limit the potential usage of soft robots in various practical applications. In this article, we review the new types of untethered soft actuators that represent breakthroughs and discuss the future perspective of soft actuators. We discuss the functional materials and innovative strategies that gave rise to untethered soft actuators and deliver our perspective on challenges and opportunities for future-generation soft actuators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeongju Jung
- Applied Nano and Thermal Science Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Kangkyu Kwon
- Applied Nano and Thermal Science Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Jinwoo Lee
- Department of Mechanical, Robotics, and Energy Engineering, Dongguk University, 30 Pildong-ro 1-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, 04620, South Korea.
| | - Seung Hwan Ko
- Applied Nano and Thermal Science Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, South Korea.
- Institute of Engineering Research / Institute of Advanced Machinery and Design (SNU-IAMD), Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, South Korea.
- Interdisciplinary Program in Bioengineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Korea.
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Byun J, Pal A, Ko J, Sitti M. Integrated mechanical computing for autonomous soft machines. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2933. [PMID: 38575563 PMCID: PMC10995184 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47201-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Mechanical computing offers a new modality to formulate computational autonomy in intelligent matter or machines without any external powering or active elements. Transition (or solitary) waves, induced by nonreciprocity in mechanical metamaterials comprising a chain of bistable elements, have proven to be a key ingredient for dissipation-free transmission and computation of mechanical information. However, advanced processing of mechanical information in existing designs is hindered by its dissipation when interacting with networked logic gates. Here, we present a metamaterial design strategy that allows non-dispersive mechanical solitary waves to compute multi-level cascaded logic functions, termed 'integrated mechanical computing', by propagating through a network of structurally heterogeneous computing units. From a perspective of characteristic potential energy, we establish an analytical framework that helps in understanding the solitary wave-based mechanical computation, and governs the mechanical design of key determinants for realizing cascaded logic computation, such as soliton profile and logic elements. The developed integrated mechanical computing systems are shown to receive, transmit and compute mechanical information to actuate intelligent soft machine prototypes in a seamless and integrated manner. These findings would pave the way for future intelligent robots and machines that perform computational operations between various non-electrical environmental inputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junghwan Byun
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
- Soft Hybrid Materials Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 02792, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Aniket Pal
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
- Institute of Applied Mechanics, University of Stuttgart, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Jongkuk Ko
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Gachon University, Gyeonggi-do, 13120, Republic of Korea
| | - Metin Sitti
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany.
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zürich, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland.
- School of Medicine and College of Engineering, Koç University, 34450, Istanbul, Turkey.
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4
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Ye J, Xiang W, Cheng C, Bao W, Zhang Q. Principles and methods of liquid metal actuators. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:2196-2211. [PMID: 38372963 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm01756g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
As a promising material, liquid metals (LMs) have gained considerable interest in the field of soft robotics due to their ability to move as designed routines or change their shape dramatically under external stimuli. Inspired by the science fiction film Terminator, tremendous efforts have been devoted to liquid robots with high compliance and intelligence. How to manipulate LM droplets is crucial to achieving this goal. Accordingly, this review is dedicated to presenting the principles driving LMs and summarizing the potential methods to develop LM actuators of high maneuverability. Moreover, the recent progress of LM robots based on these methods is overviewed. The challenges and prospects of implementing autonomous robots have been proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Ye
- School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, 430205, China.
| | - Wentao Xiang
- Key Laboratory of Cryogenic Science and Technology, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Cai Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Cryogenic Science and Technology, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wendi Bao
- Key Laboratory of Cryogenic Science and Technology, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Cryogenic Science and Technology, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- School of Engineering Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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Wang T, Joo HJ, Song S, Hu W, Keplinger C, Sitti M. A versatile jellyfish-like robotic platform for effective underwater propulsion and manipulation. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg0292. [PMID: 37043565 PMCID: PMC10096580 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg0292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Underwater devices are critical for environmental applications. However, existing prototypes typically use bulky, noisy actuators and limited configurations. Consequently, they struggle to ensure noise-free and gentle interactions with underwater species when realizing practical functions. Therefore, we developed a jellyfish-like robotic platform enabled by a synergy of electrohydraulic actuators and a hybrid structure of rigid and soft components. Our 16-cm-diameter noise-free prototype could control the fluid flow to propel while manipulating objects to be kept beneath its body without physical contact, thereby enabling safer interactions. Its against-gravity speed was up to 6.1 cm/s, substantially quicker than other examples in literature, while only requiring a low input power of around 100 mW. Moreover, using the platform, we demonstrated contact-based object manipulation, fluidic mixing, shape adaptation, steering, wireless swimming, and cooperation of two to three robots. This study introduces a versatile jellyfish-like robotic platform with a wide range of functions for diverse applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianlu Wang
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Stuttgart 70569, Germany
- Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8092, Switzerland
| | - Hyeong-Joon Joo
- Robotic Materials Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Stuttgart 70569, Germany
| | - Shanyuan Song
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Stuttgart 70569, Germany
- Bioinspired Autonomous Miniature Robots Group, Stuttgart 70569, Germany
| | - Wenqi Hu
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Stuttgart 70569, Germany
- Bioinspired Autonomous Miniature Robots Group, Stuttgart 70569, Germany
| | - Christoph Keplinger
- Robotic Materials Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Stuttgart 70569, Germany
- Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Metin Sitti
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Stuttgart 70569, Germany
- Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8092, Switzerland
- School of Medicine and College of Engineering, Koç University, Istanbul 34450, Turkey
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Yu Z, Shang J, Shi Q, Xia Y, Zhai DH, Wang H, Huang Q, Fukuda T. Electrically Controlled Aquatic Soft Actuators with Desynchronized Actuation and Light-Mediated Reciprocal Locomotion. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:12936-12948. [PMID: 35244389 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c01838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Soft-bodied aquatic invertebrates can overcome hydrodynamic resistance and display diverse locomotion modes in response to environmental cues. Exploring the dynamics of locomotion from bioinspired aquatic actuators will broaden the perspective of underwater manipulation of artificial systems in fluidic environments. Here, we report a multilayer soft actuator design based on a light-driven hydrogel and a laser-induced graphene (LIG) actuator, minimizing the effect of the time delay by a monolithic hydrogel-based system while maintaining shape-morphing functionality. Moreover, different time scales in the response of actuator materials enable a real-time desynchronization of energy inputs, holding great potential for applications requiring desynchronized stimulation. This hybrid design principle is ultimately demonstrated with a high-performance aquatic soft actuator possessing an underwater walking speed of 0.81 body length per minute at a relatively low power consumption of 3 W. When integrated with an optical sensor, the soft actuator can sense the variation in light intensity and achieve mediated reciprocal motion. Our proposed locomotion mechanism could inspire other multilayer soft actuators to achieve underwater functionalities at the same spatiotemporal scale. The underwater actuation platform could be used to study locomotion kinematics and control mechanisms that mimic the motion of soft-bodied aquatic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Yu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots and Systems, School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomimetic Robots and Systems, Beijing Institute of Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Junyi Shang
- School of Automation, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Qing Shi
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots and Systems, School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomimetic Robots and Systems, Beijing Institute of Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yuanqing Xia
- School of Automation, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Di-Hua Zhai
- School of Automation, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Huaping Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots and Systems, School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomimetic Robots and Systems, Beijing Institute of Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Qiang Huang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots and Systems, School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomimetic Robots and Systems, Beijing Institute of Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Toshio Fukuda
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots and Systems, School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomimetic Robots and Systems, Beijing Institute of Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100081, China
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7
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Qi J, Chen Z, Jiang P, Hu W, Wang Y, Zhao Z, Cao X, Zhang S, Tao R, Li Y, Fang D. Recent Progress in Active Mechanical Metamaterials and Construction Principles. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2102662. [PMID: 34716676 PMCID: PMC8728820 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202102662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Active mechanical metamaterials (AMMs) (or smart mechanical metamaterials) that combine the configurations of mechanical metamaterials and the active control of stimuli-responsive materials have been widely investigated in recent decades. The elaborate artificial microstructures of mechanical metamaterials and the stimulus response characteristics of smart materials both contribute to AMMs, making them achieve excellent properties beyond the conventional metamaterials. The micro and macro structures of the AMMs are designed based on structural construction principles such as, phase transition, strain mismatch, and mechanical instability. Considering the controllability and efficiency of the stimuli-responsive materials, physical fields such as, the temperature, chemicals, light, electric current, magnetic field, and pressure have been adopted as the external stimuli in practice. In this paper, the frontier works and the latest progress in AMMs from the aspects of the mechanics and materials are reviewed. The functions and engineering applications of the AMMs are also discussed. Finally, existing issues and future perspectives in this field are briefly described. This review is expected to provide the basis and inspiration for the follow-up research on AMMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jixiang Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Explosion Science and TechnologyBeijing Institute of TechnologyBeijing100081China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Lightweight Multi‐functional Composite Materials and StructuresInstitute of Advanced Structure TechnologyBeijing Institute of TechnologyBeijing100081China
| | - Zihao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Explosion Science and TechnologyBeijing Institute of TechnologyBeijing100081China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Lightweight Multi‐functional Composite Materials and StructuresInstitute of Advanced Structure TechnologyBeijing Institute of TechnologyBeijing100081China
| | - Peng Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Explosion Science and TechnologyBeijing Institute of TechnologyBeijing100081China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Lightweight Multi‐functional Composite Materials and StructuresInstitute of Advanced Structure TechnologyBeijing Institute of TechnologyBeijing100081China
| | - Wenxia Hu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Lightweight Multi‐functional Composite Materials and StructuresInstitute of Advanced Structure TechnologyBeijing Institute of TechnologyBeijing100081China
| | - Yonghuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Explosion Science and TechnologyBeijing Institute of TechnologyBeijing100081China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Lightweight Multi‐functional Composite Materials and StructuresInstitute of Advanced Structure TechnologyBeijing Institute of TechnologyBeijing100081China
| | - Zeang Zhao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Lightweight Multi‐functional Composite Materials and StructuresInstitute of Advanced Structure TechnologyBeijing Institute of TechnologyBeijing100081China
| | - Xiaofei Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Explosion Science and TechnologyBeijing Institute of TechnologyBeijing100081China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Lightweight Multi‐functional Composite Materials and StructuresInstitute of Advanced Structure TechnologyBeijing Institute of TechnologyBeijing100081China
| | - Shushan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Explosion Science and TechnologyBeijing Institute of TechnologyBeijing100081China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Lightweight Multi‐functional Composite Materials and StructuresInstitute of Advanced Structure TechnologyBeijing Institute of TechnologyBeijing100081China
| | - Ran Tao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Lightweight Multi‐functional Composite Materials and StructuresInstitute of Advanced Structure TechnologyBeijing Institute of TechnologyBeijing100081China
| | - Ying Li
- State Key Laboratory of Explosion Science and TechnologyBeijing Institute of TechnologyBeijing100081China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Lightweight Multi‐functional Composite Materials and StructuresInstitute of Advanced Structure TechnologyBeijing Institute of TechnologyBeijing100081China
| | - Daining Fang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Lightweight Multi‐functional Composite Materials and StructuresInstitute of Advanced Structure TechnologyBeijing Institute of TechnologyBeijing100081China
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