Autonomous, untethered gait-like synchronization of lobed loops made from liquid crystal elastomer fibers via spontaneous snap-through

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Penn collection
School of Engineering and Applied Science::Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter
Degree type
Discipline
Materials Engineering
Subject
Liquid crystal elastomer fibers
snap-through
soft robotics
Funder
National Science Foundation (NSF)/Materials Research Science and Engineering Center
NSF/DMR
National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF)/MSIT
Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology(KRICT)
Grant number
Copyright date
2023
Distributor
Related resources
Author
Contributor
Kim, Dae Seok
Lee, Young-Joo
Kim, Young Been
Wang, Yuchen
Abstract

The transition from one equilibrium state to another via rapid snap-through can store elastic energy and release it as kinetic energy for rapid motion as seen in Venus flytrap and hummingbird to catch insects mid-flight. They are explored in soft robotics for repeated and autonomous motions. In this study, we synthesize curved liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) fibers as the building blocks that can undergo buckling instability upon heated on a hot surface, leading to autonomous snap-through and rolling behaviors. When they are connected into lobed loops, where each fiber is geometrically constrained by the neighboring ones, they demonstrate autonomous, self-regulated, and repeated synchronization with a frequency of ~1.8 Hz. By adding a rigid bead on the fiber, we can fine-tune the actuation direction and speed (up to ~2.4 mm/s). Last, we demonstrate various gait-like locomotion patterns using the loops as the robot’s legs.

Advisor
Date Range for Data Collection (Start Date)
Date Range for Data Collection (End Date)
Digital Object Identifier
Series name and number
Publication date
2023
Journal title
Science Advances
Volume number
Issue number
Publisher
Science
Publisher DOI
10.1126/sciadv.adh5107
Journal Issue
Comments
Recommended citation
Collection