Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Liquid Crystal Polymers as Intrinsically Magnetic and Programmable Soft Materials for Microrobotics.

Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2026

Same author

Unveiling the role of base catalysts in the thiol-Michael addition reaction in liquid crystal oligomers and liquid crystal elastomers.

Chemical science·2026

Same author

Energy Transfer in Nanodroplet-Based Luminescent Solar Concentrators.

Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2026

Same author

Light-Responsive Surface Topographies Modulate Macrophage Immune Responses Through Dynamic Mechanical Cues.

Macromolecular bioscience·2026

Same author

Stimuli-Responsive Afterglow from Luminescent Liquid Crystal Elastomers.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)·2025

Same author

Optical Blaster: Launching Nanostructured Microrockets out of an Optical Trap by a Single Laser Beam.

ACS nano·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 12, 2025

Preparation of Liquid Crystal Networks for Macroscopic Oscillatory Motion Induced by Light

Preparation of Liquid Crystal Networks for Macroscopic Oscillatory Motion Induced by Light

Published on: September 20, 2017

Bioinspired light-driven soft robots based on liquid crystal polymers.

M Pilz da Cunha¹, M G Debije¹, A P H J Schenning¹

¹Laboratory of Stimuli-responsive Functional Materials & Devices, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands. a.p.h.j.schenning@tue.nl.

Chemical Society Reviews

|August 12, 2020

Summary

Scientists are developing light-driven soft robots using liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs). These bioinspired robots mimic life-like motions and tasks, paving the way for untethered, autonomous devices.

More Related Videos

Bioinspired Soft Robot with Incorporated Microelectrodes

Bioinspired Soft Robot with Incorporated Microelectrodes

Published on: February 28, 2020

Free-form Light Actuators — Fabrication and Control of Actuation in Microscopic Scale

Free-form Light Actuators — Fabrication and Control of Actuation in Microscopic Scale

Published on: May 25, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 12, 2025

Preparation of Liquid Crystal Networks for Macroscopic Oscillatory Motion Induced by Light

Preparation of Liquid Crystal Networks for Macroscopic Oscillatory Motion Induced by Light

Published on: September 20, 2017

Bioinspired Soft Robot with Incorporated Microelectrodes

Bioinspired Soft Robot with Incorporated Microelectrodes

Published on: February 28, 2020

Free-form Light Actuators — Fabrication and Control of Actuation in Microscopic Scale

Free-form Light Actuators — Fabrication and Control of Actuation in Microscopic Scale

Published on: May 25, 2016

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Robotics
Polymer Science

Background:

Nature inspires the creation of untethered, man-made devices capable of life-like motion and tasks.
Liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs) are key materials for developing light-responsive, shape-changing robots.
Achieving autonomous, light-driven soft robots requires understanding actuation, material performance, and engineering principles.

Purpose of the Study:

To review advancements in liquid crystal (LC)-based materials for bioinspired robotics.
To highlight developments in light-responsive LCPs, shape programmability, and sustained motions.
To discuss the engineering of untethered soft robots capable of locomotion and task performance.

Main Methods:

Introduction to liquid crystal (LC) materials and their properties.
Exploration of light-responsive LCPs and their actuation mechanisms.
Discussion of shape programming and engineering for bioinspired locomotion.

Main Results:

Demonstration of LCPs enabling 3D shape changes in response to light.
Progress in achieving controlled, sustained motions in light-driven soft robots.
Examples of bioinspired locomotion, from bending to walking, achieved through material design.

Conclusions:

Liquid crystalline polymers are highly promising for creating autonomous, untethered soft robots.
Further advancements in material science and engineering are crucial for realizing complex bioinspired robotic functions.
This review provides insights into the development of light-driven soft robots for diverse applications.