Encoding spatiotemporal asymmetry in artificial cilia with a ctenophore-inspired soft-robotic platform

Area of Science:

• Bioinspired robotics
• Fluid dynamics
• Soft robotics

Background:

• Metachronal coordination is a common biological strategy for locomotion and fluid pumping across various scales.
• Understanding the role of individual propulsor kinematics, especially at different hydrodynamic scales, is crucial for efficient flow generation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how asymmetric beating patterns in metachronal coordination affect fluid pumping performance.
• To develop a soft robotic platform for studying metachronal coordination at the meso-scale.

Main Methods:

• Developed a soft robotic platform using magnetoactive silicone elastomers.
• Passively encoded asymmetric beating patterns into artificial propulsors.
• Utilized Particle Image Velocimetry and high-speed videography to analyze kinematics and hydrodynamics.

Main Results:

• Asymmetric beating patterns demonstrably move more fluid than symmetric patterns at identical frequencies and phase lags.
• Passive encoding of asymmetry was achieved through the interplay of elastic and magnetic torques.
• Nuanced differences in propulsor kinematics significantly impact fluid pumping performance.

Conclusions:

• Soft robotic propulsors with asymmetric beating patterns offer enhanced fluid pumping capabilities.
• The developed platform facilitates research into meso-scale metachronal coordination.
• Findings can guide the development of advanced bioinspired pumps and swimming robots.