Biomimicking aquatic organisms offers many opportunities for designing intelligent robots that can freely move on water. However, most works were focused on multilayered materials or assembled structures and faced limitations in stability, versatility, and motion navigation. Here, we develop an assembly-free water-strider-like aquatic robot using a single layer of light-programmable liquid-crystal elastomer (LCE) that could be used to create asymmetric structures. The LCE strider mimics both the shape and functions of natural water striders; it is designed with four legs, with the fore and hind legs being programmed respectively via light. Consequently, the LCE strider shows self-oscillation and self-propulsion behaviors on low-grade thermal water with a temperature gradient at the air–water interface, owing to unbalanced changes in the contact areas and tensions between the legs and water. Furthermore, the trajectories of the LCE strider are manipulated by NIR light after selectively depositing polydopamine with photothermal conversion. In this way, path navigation is realized, that is, moving straight and on-demand turning, similar to the movement of natural water striders. This study should inspire the development of soft intelligent robots using shape-morphing materials.
Hong Zhu,Borui Xu,Yang Wang,Xiaoxia Pan,Zehua Qu,Yongfeng Mei
Hydrogels are an exciting class of materials for new and emerging robotics. For example, actuators based on hydrogels have impressive deformability and responsiveness. Studies into hydrogels with autonomous locomotive abilities, however, are limited. Existing hydrogels achieve locomotion through the application of cyclical stimuli or chemical modifications. Here, we report the fabrication of active hydrogels with an intrinsic ability to move on the surface of water without operated stimuli for up to 3.5 hours. The active hydrogels were composed of hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups and underwent a dynamic wetting process to achieve spatial and temporal control of surface tension asymmetry. Using surface tension, the homogeneous active hydrogels propelled themselves and showed controlled locomotion on water, similar to common water striders.
Lihao Zhang,Lehao Ren,Sunlong Li,Minli Xiong,Yue Cao,Yufei Chen,Weipeng Lu,Cihui Liu,Shengzheng Luo
Soft-bodied aquatic organisms exhibit extraordinary navigation and mobility in liquid environments which inspiring the development of biomimetic actuators with complex movements. Stimulus-responsive soft materials including hydrogels and shape-memory polymers are replacing traditional rigid parts that leading to dynamic and responsive soft actuators. In this study, we took inspiration from water strider to develop a biomimetic actuator for targeted stimulation and pH sensing in the gastrointestinal tract. We designed a soft and water-based Janus adhesive hydrogel patch that attaches to specific parts of the intestine and responds to pH changes through external stimulation. The hydrogel patch that forms the belly of the water strider driver incorporates an inverse opal microstructure that enables pH responsive behavior. The hydrogel patch on the water strider's leg uses a sandwich structure of Cu particles to convert light into heat and bend under infrared light to mimic the water strider's leg simulating the efficient and steady movement of the water strider's leg which transporting the biological fluid in one direction. This miniature bionic actuator demonstrates controlled adhesion and unidirectional biofluid delivery capabilities, proving its potential for targeted stimulus response and pH sensing in the gastrointestinal tract, thus opening up new possibilities for medical applications in the growing field of soft actuators.
危险品化学品经营许可证（带存储）