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Sunlight-powered self-excited oscillators for sustainable autonomous soft robotics
Yusen Zhao1, Qiaofeng Li2, Zixiao Liu1
1Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA.
Science Robotics
|April 19, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed self-sustaining soft robots powered by light. These autonomous robots utilize liquid crystal elastomer oscillators to achieve motion with minimal energy input, paving the way for untethered soft robotics.
Area of Science:
- Soft robotics
- Materials science
- Polymer physics
Background:
- Achieving full autonomy in soft robotics is a key goal, particularly for robots powered by environmental energy.
- Self-sustained energy supply and motion control are crucial for untethered robotic systems.
- Stimuli-responsive polymers offer potential for autonomous movement using environmental energy sources like light.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop fully autonomous and self-sustainable soft robots capable of movement powered by low-intensity environmental energy.
- To reduce the required input power density for robot oscillation using advanced material design and modeling.
- To demonstrate the feasibility of self-excited oscillation in soft robots for practical applications.
Main Methods:
- Designed a liquid crystal elastomer (LCE)-based bilayer structure for enhanced photothermal conversion and responsiveness.
- Utilized computational modeling to optimize the bilayer design and minimize power requirements.
- Fabricated and tested the "LiLBot" oscillator under low-intensity light conditions to measure its motion parameters.
Main Results:
- Successfully reduced the required input power density to approximately one-Sun level.
- Achieved autonomous, self-excited oscillation in the LCE/elastomer bilayer oscillator (LiLBot) under low energy supply.
- Demonstrated tunable oscillation with peak-to-peak amplitudes from 4 to 72 degrees and frequencies from 0.3 to 11 Hz.
Conclusions:
- The developed oscillation approach enables the design of autonomous, untethered, and sustainable small-scale soft robots.
- High photothermal conversion, low modulus, and high material responsiveness are key to achieving motion with low energy input.
- The LiLBot platform offers a versatile strategy for creating various soft robotic systems, including sailboats, walkers, rollers, and flapping wings.
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