Venus Flytrap-Inspired Data-Center-Free Fast-Responsive Soft Robots Enabled by 2D Ni₃(HITP)₂ MOF and Graphite

Area of Science:

• Robotics
• Materials Science
• Biomimicry

Background:

• Soft robots offer valuable stimulus perception and reaction capabilities.
• Existing soft robots often require data centers for mechanoelectrical transduction and electromechanical actuation, increasing complexity and delays.
• Venus flytraps exhibit efficient, localized stimulus-response mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a soft robot with a power modulation strategy for active stimulus reaction, eliminating the need for a data center.
• To achieve ultralow time delay in mechanoelectrical transduction and efficient electromechanical actuation.
• To inspire new designs for edge and high-level soft robots with integrated reflexes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Ni3(2,3,6,7,10,11-hexaiminotriphenylene)2 (Ni3(HITP)2) metal-organic framework (MOF) for mechanoelectrical transduction with a 256 ns time delay.
• Employed graphite for electromechanical actuation, modulated by the Ni3(HITP)2 MOF's response to pressure.
• Developed three soft robot prototypes: edge tongue, Venus flytrap, and dragonfly robots.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated effective mechanoelectrical transduction and electromechanical actuation using the Ni3(HITP)2 MOF and graphite.
• Achieved active stimulus reaction in soft robots through power modulation, bypassing the need for external data centers.
• Successfully created diverse soft robot models showcasing the power modulation strategy.

Conclusions:

• The developed power modulation strategy enables responsive soft robots without data center reliance, significantly reducing system complexity and time delays.
• This approach, inspired by Venus flytraps, offers a new paradigm for designing edge and high-level soft robots.
• The strategy facilitates a human-like fusion of conditioned and unconditioned reflexes in advanced soft robotic systems.