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Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Imaging Molecular Adhesion in Cell Rolling by Adhesion Footprint Assay
Published on: September 27, 2021
Switchable adhesion of phase-transition eutectogels with integrated machine learning-enhanced intelligent adhesion
JiaQing He1, JiaHao Li1, HanYang Dong1,2
1Institute of Humanoid Robots, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
Abstract:
Switchable adhesion underpins emerging technologies in robotics, microelectronics, and biomedical engineering. However, achieving switchable surface adhesion that can adapt to substrates with varying material compositions and surface roughness, while simultaneously enabling real-time and wireless monitoring of adhesion strength, poses a substantial challenge. Here, we present a eutectogel-based system that integrates electrothermally switchable adhesion with wireless sensing capability for in situ monitoring of adhesion forces. The switching mechanism is systematically elucidated through a combination of mechanical analysis and molecular-level characterization. The integration of machine-learning assisted adhesion sensing with dynamic gripping and locomotion enables safer and smarter robotic operation in adhesion joints, smart grippers and climbing robots. Demonstrations in adhesion-aware sensing, robotic grasping, and wall climbing validate the system's practical utility, establishing a pathway toward next-generation intelligent adhesive interfaces that are both adaptive and self-perceptive.

