Gu Ming, Echtermeyer Tim J
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
Photon Science Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
Small. 2024 Jul;20(28):e2311001. doi: 10.1002/smll.202311001. Epub 2024 Feb 11.
Small-scale soft robots demonstrate intricate life-like behavior and allow navigation through arduous terrains and confined spaces. However, the primary challenges in soft robotics are 1) creating actuators capable of quick, reversible 22D-to-3D shape morphing with adjustable stiffness, 2) improving actuation force and robustness for wider applications, and 3) designing holistic systems for untethered manipulation and flexible multimodality in practical scenarios. Here, mechanically compliant paper-like robots are presented with multiple functionalities. The robots are based on photothermally activated polymer bimorph actuators that incorporate graphene for the photo-thermal conversion of energy and muscovite mica, with its high Young's modulus, providing the required stiffness. Conversion of light into heat leads to thermal expansion and bending of the stress-mismatched structures. The actuators are designed on the basis of a modified Timoshenko model, and numerical simulations are employed to evaluate their actuation performance. The membranes can be utilized for light-driven programmable shape-morphing. Localized control allows the implementation of active hinges at arbitrary positions within the membrane. Integrated into small-scale soft robots in mass production, the membrane facilitates locomotion, rolling, and flipping of the robots. Further, grasping and kicking mechanisms are demonstrated, highlighting the potential of such actuators for future applications.
小型软机器人展现出复杂的逼真行为,能够在艰难地形和狭窄空间中导航。然而,软机器人技术面临的主要挑战包括:1)制造能够实现快速、可逆的二维到三维形状变形且刚度可调的致动器;2)提高致动力和鲁棒性以实现更广泛的应用;3)设计用于实际场景中无 tether 操作和灵活多模态的整体系统。在此,展示了具有多种功能的机械柔顺类纸机器人。这些机器人基于光热激活的聚合物双压电晶片致动器,该致动器结合了用于能量光热转换的石墨烯和具有高杨氏模量的白云母,以提供所需的刚度。光转化为热会导致应力不匹配结构的热膨胀和弯曲。致动器基于改进的铁木辛柯模型进行设计,并采用数值模拟来评估其致动性能。这些膜可用于光驱动的可编程形状变形。局部控制允许在膜内的任意位置实现主动铰链。集成到大规模生产的小型软机器人中,该膜有助于机器人的移动、滚动和翻转。此外,还展示了抓取和踢腿机制,突出了此类致动器在未来应用中的潜力。