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Updated: May 17, 2026

Bioinspired Soft Robot with Incorporated Microelectrodes
Published on: February 28, 2020
Swimming like algae: biomimetic soft artificial cilia
Sina Sareh1, Jonathan Rossiter, Andrew Conn
1Department of Engineering Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Abstract:
Cilia are used effectively in a wide variety of biological systems from fluid transport to thrust generation. Here, we present the design and implementation of artificial cilia, based on a biomimetic planar actuator using soft-smart materials. This actuator is modelled on the cilia movement of the alga Volvox, and represents the cilium as a piecewise constant-curvature robotic actuator that enables the subsequent direct translation of natural articulation into a multi-segment ionic polymer metal composite actuator. It is demonstrated how the combination of optimal segmentation pattern and biologically derived per-segment driving signals reproduce natural ciliary motion. The amenability of the artificial cilia to scaling is also demonstrated through the comparison of the Reynolds number achieved with that of natural cilia.
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