An Underwater Bionic Snake Soft Robot with Tunable Deformation and Motion Based on Composite Materials

Soft-bodied aquatic organisms and amphibians have different locomotion forms optimized for the living environment. With the increase of scientific research on oceanographic engineering, more and more researchers are paying attention to the underwater movement of bionic robots. Currently, underwater robots face two critical problems, that is, the inefficient actuation of traditional stimulatory response materials and the inability to ensure accurate spatiotemporal control of deformation. In this study, a soft stimulus-responsive material is designed for remote cordless control in the water environment. An underwater bionic snake soft robot is fabricated using a temperature-sensitive hydrogel Poly( N -isopropylacrylamide) and carbon nanotubes with the ability to convert light into heat. Tunable shape deformation and movement, including the concertina and serpentine locomotion of a light-driven bionic snake soft robot, are realized by controlling the position of joints through light illumination. In addition, the transport of rod-like objects, obstacle-surmounting, and working on different surfaces are achieved by the bionic snake robot. This study will provide references for research on the multiple underwater locomotion forms of light-driven soft robots.