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Somatosensory, Untethered Soft Robotic Muscles
Kai Liu1,2,3, Yangyang Fan2,3, Jiu-An Lv2,3
1School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|October 20, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed somatosensory untethered soft robotic muscles (SUSRMs) that mimic biological muscles. These robots sense and respond to their environment, enabling autonomous navigation and complex tasks through eddy current induction.
Area of Science:
- Robotics
- Materials Science
- Biomimetics
Background:
- Biological muscles exhibit somatosensory capabilities, sensing and responding to environmental changes.
- Current synthetic soft robotic muscles lack integrated somatosensory functions.
- Bridging this gap is crucial for developing advanced, responsive soft robots.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop novel somatosensory untethered soft robotic muscles (SUSRMs).
- To integrate proprioception and actuation for closed-loop control.
- To demonstrate versatile applications of SUSRMs in robotics.
Main Methods:
- Leveraging eddy current induction for somatosensory function via magnetic coupling.
- Utilizing eddy current induction heating for programmable actuation.
- Implementing multifield-coupling control strategies.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated SUSRMs with integrated sensing and actuation.
- Showcased spatially programmable catapults and logic circuit switches.
- Developed a closed-loop controlled soft robot for autonomous navigation and cargo transport.
- Created a multifunctional crab-shaped soft robot for complex tasks in enclosed environments.
Conclusions:
- SUSRMs offer a versatile platform for creating advanced, somatosensory, and untethered soft robotic muscles.
- The eddy current induction principle provides a robust method for biomimetic robotic muscle design.
- This technology enables sophisticated, adaptive, and autonomous soft robotic systems.
Keywords:
autonomous soft robotseddy current induction heatingmultifield-coupling controlproprioceptionsoft robotic musclesspatiotemporal programmabilityMore Related Videos
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