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Updated: Dec 1, 2025

Bioinspired Soft Robot with Incorporated Microelectrodes

Bioinspired Soft Robot with Incorporated Microelectrodes

Published on: February 28, 2020

Bioinspired photocontrollable microstructured transport device.

Emre Kizilkan¹, Jan Strueben^2,3,4, Anne Staubitz^5,3,4

¹Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, 24118 Kiel, Germany. ekizilkan@zoologie.uni-kiel.de staubitz@uni-bremen.de sgorb@zoologie.uni-kiel.de.

Science Robotics

|November 7, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Inspired by gecko feet, scientists created a light-controlled micro-device for object transport. This photocontrollable system uses tunable ultraviolet light to adjust adhesion, enabling efficient pick-up and drop-down capabilities.

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Area of Science:

Biomimetics and Materials Science
Robotics and Micro-transport Systems

Background:

Geckos exhibit remarkable adhesion and detachment capabilities due to hierarchical toe structures.
Natural stimuli-responsive systems offer inspiration for advanced engineering solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop an artificial, photocontrollable microstructured transport device inspired by gecko adhesion.
To investigate the effect of tunable ultraviolet light on adhesive forces and recovery.

Main Methods:

Fabrication of a bioinspired microstructured transport device.
Application of tunable ultraviolet light to modulate adhesive properties.
Testing the device in a pick-up and drop-down system for object manipulation.

Main Results:

The photocontrollable device demonstrated reduced adhesive forces (up to 2.7x) under ultraviolet light illumination.
Adhesive ability was quickly recovered upon cessation of the light stimulus.
Successful transport of planar and three-dimensional solid objects was achieved.

Conclusions:

The developed bioinspired device offers a novel approach to photocontrollable adhesion.
This technology has potential applications in micro-transport and robotic manipulation systems.
Light-induced adhesion control provides a versatile mechanism for handling delicate or complex objects.