Structured light enables biomimetic swimming and versatile locomotion of photoresponsive soft microrobots
Structured light enables biomimetic swimming and versatile locomotion of photoresponsive soft microrobots
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DOI：
10.1038/nmat4569
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发表时间：
2016-06-01
期刊：
影响因子：
41.2
通讯作者：
Fischer, Peer
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Palagi, Stefano;Mark, Andrew G.;Fischer, Peer
微生物通过身体形状的周期性变化在具有挑战性的环境中移动。相比之下，目前的人工微型机器人在外场作用下不能主动变形，最多只能表现为被动弯曲。在这里，通过利用光允许的无线，可扩展和时空选择能力，我们展示了由光活性液晶弹性体组成的软微型机器人可以由结构单色光驱动来执行复杂的仿生运动。我们实现了连续的但有选择性的人工微游泳者，产生行波运动，在没有外力或扭矩的情况下自我推进，以及能够根据需要进行多种运动行为的微机器人。理论预测和实验结果都证实，单个微游泳者可以模仿纤毛虫原生动物的顺或反顺异时性，实现多种步态。使用结构光的原理可以扩展到其他需要微尺度驱动的应用，以及先进的微型机器人技术的复杂时空协调。
Microorganisms move in challenging environments by periodic changes in body shape. In contrast, current artificial microrobots cannot actively deform, exhibiting at best passive bending under external fields. Here, by taking advantage of the wireless, scalable and spatiotemporally selective capabilities that light allows, we show that soft microrobots consisting of photoactive liquid-crystal elastomers can be driven by structured monochromatic light to perform sophisticated biomimetic motions. We realize continuum yet selectively addressable artificial microswimmers that generate travelling-wave motions to self-propel without external forces or torques, as well as microrobots capable of versatile locomotion behaviours on demand. Both theoretical predictions and experimental results confirm that multiple gaits, mimicking either symplectic or antiplectic metachrony of ciliate protozoa, can be achieved with single microswimmers. The principle of using structured light can be extended to other applications that require microscale actuation with sophisticated spatiotemporal coordination for advanced microrobotic technologies.