About event
Nature has evolved remarkably intricate designs at small scales, enabling insects and other organisms to perform complex movements with efficiency and agility. Replicating such functionality in miniature robots remains a significant challenge, particularly in actuation, where conventional motors face severe limitations when miniaturized. To address this, we explore materials and fabrication processes for multilayer electronic thin films that function as artificial muscles at the millimeter scale. By combining flexible electrodes with dielectric liquids, we create soft electrohydraulic actuators that offer high bandwidth (0–150 Hz) and low power consumption (35 mW).
We demonstrate the monolithic integration of these actuators into centimeter-scale swimming robots (25–45 mm body length), which propel themselves across the water surface using undulating fin propulsion. Independent control of each actuator enables versatile maneuvering, including forward, backward, sideways, and turning motions. Integrated miniature power electronics and control systems allow untethered, autonomous operation in cluttered environments, such as grassy aquatic landscapes. These robots can navigate obstacles, seek out light sources, and execute rapid maneuvers, opening up applications in environmental monitoring, agriculture, and search-and-rescue operations.
