Light‐Fueled Climbing of Monolithic Torsional Soft Robots via Molecular Engineering

Advanced Intelligent Systems

Yun Ho Kim¹  Ji Ho Youk²  Rajamanickam Sivakumar²  Jisoo Jeon³  Jeong Jae Wie³  Jae Gwang Kim³  Maenghyo Cho⁴  Jonggeon Lee⁴ 

[1] Advanced Materials Division Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) Daejeon 34114 South Korea;Department of Chemical Engineering Inha University Incheon 22212 South Korea;Department of Polymer Science and Engineering Inha University 100 Inha-ro Michuhol-gu Incheon 22212 South Korea;School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Seoul National University Seoul 08826 South Korea;

关键词: FEM simulation;    liquid crystalline polymers;    molecular switch;    soft robots;    stimuli-responsive materials;   

DOI  :  10.1002/aisy.202100148

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Azobenzene‐functionalized liquid crystalline polymer networks (azo‐LCNs) are promising candidates for light‐fueled contactless manipulation of miniaturized soft robots through embedding photoactive molecular switches into alignment‐programmable LCNs. In particular, the 3D helical geometry of azo‐LCNs is reported to achieve rapid photomotility by introducing rolling resistance. However, the maximum height of the obstacle that soft robot can overcome is limited by the helix diameter and the stress–strain responsivity. Herein, the helical diameter per unit length and photogenerated stress through molecular engineering of photoactive molecular switches are maximized. The carbon number of aliphatic spacers in the photoactive molecular switches is varied from two to eight to systematically investigate the structure–property–performance relations by studying the molecular geometry, physical properties of polymers, and photomotility of polymers. Furthermore, a finite‐element analysis simulation is presented to understand the rolling locomotion of helical torsional soft robots. Through molecular engineering, the helix diameter per unit length of 0.2 mg soft robots is maximized, demonstrating high Young's modulus (≈2 GPa) and photogenerated stress (>1 MPa), as well as large velocity per body length, compared with the previously reported soft robots. Finally, the molecularly engineered soft robots successfully climb stairs, which is a key task in robotic systems.

【 授权许可】

Unknown