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Updated: Jun 3, 2025
08:24
Bioinspired Soft Robot with Incorporated Microelectrodes
Published on: February 28, 2020
8.7K
Leech-Inspired Amphibious Soft Robot Driven by High-Voltage Triboelectricity.
Qiwei Zheng1, Liming Xin2, Qin Zhang1
1School of Mechatronic Engineering and Automation, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, P. R. China.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|January 8, 2025
Summary
This study introduces a novel leech-inspired soft robot capable of amphibious movement and climbing. The robot utilizes a triboelectric nanogenerator for self-powered operation, offering a sustainable energy solution for soft robotics.
Area of Science:
- Robotics and Biomimetics
- Materials Science
- Energy Harvesting
Background:
- Leech locomotion offers adaptability and stability on complex terrains.
- Soft robots require efficient and adaptable locomotion methods.
- Self-powered systems are crucial for autonomous robotic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a leech-inspired soft robot (LSR) with amphibious capabilities.
- To create a high-performance triboelectric bionic robot system for driving and controlling the LSR.
- To investigate the potential of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) as self-powered energy sources for soft robots.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a leech-inspired soft robot using segmented dielectric elastomer muscles.
- Development of triboelectric suckers for anisotropic frictional forces.
- Integration of a multi-channel high-voltage output triboelectric nanogenerator (HDC-TENG) for robot actuation.
- Implementation of a high-voltage triboelectric control unit for flexible robot control.
Main Results:
- The LSR demonstrated amphibious movement, climbing, and load-carrying capabilities.
- Maximum crawling speeds achieved were 0.39 body lengths per minute on land and 0.22 body lengths per minute in liquid.
- The robot successfully carried a payload of 11.55 grams on acrylic.
- The HDC-TENG effectively powered and controlled the electro-responsive soft robot.
Conclusions:
- A novel leech-inspired triboelectric soft robot system has been successfully developed.
- The proposed system offers a sustainable and promising solution for self-powered high-voltage energy sources in soft robotics.
- This research paves the way for advanced bio-inspired robots with enhanced mobility and functionality.
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