TY - JOUR
T1 - An artificial aquatic polyp that wirelessly attracts, grasps, and releases objects
AU - Pilz da Cunha, Marina
AU - Kandail, Harkamaljot S.
AU - den Toonder, Jaap M.J.
AU - Schenning, Albert P.H.J.
PY - 2020/7/28
Y1 - 2020/7/28
N2 - The development of light-responsive materials has captured scientific attention and advanced the development of wirelessly driven terrestrial soft robots. Marine organisms trigger inspiration to expand the paradigm of untethered soft robotics into aqueous environments. However, this expansion toward aquatic soft robots is hampered by the slow response of most light-driven polymers to low light intensities and by the lack of controlled multishape deformations. Herein, we present a surface-anchored artificial aquatic coral polyp composed of a magnetically driven stem and a light-driven gripper. Through magnetically driven motion, the polyp induces stirring and attracts suspended targets. The light-responsive gripper is sensitive to low light intensities and has programmable states and rapid and highly controlled actuation, allowing the polyp to capture or release targets on demand. The artificial polyp demonstrates that assemblies of stimuli-responsive materials in water utilizing coordinated motion can perform tasks not possible for single-component devices.
AB - The development of light-responsive materials has captured scientific attention and advanced the development of wirelessly driven terrestrial soft robots. Marine organisms trigger inspiration to expand the paradigm of untethered soft robotics into aqueous environments. However, this expansion toward aquatic soft robots is hampered by the slow response of most light-driven polymers to low light intensities and by the lack of controlled multishape deformations. Herein, we present a surface-anchored artificial aquatic coral polyp composed of a magnetically driven stem and a light-driven gripper. Through magnetically driven motion, the polyp induces stirring and attracts suspended targets. The light-responsive gripper is sensitive to low light intensities and has programmable states and rapid and highly controlled actuation, allowing the polyp to capture or release targets on demand. The artificial polyp demonstrates that assemblies of stimuli-responsive materials in water utilizing coordinated motion can perform tasks not possible for single-component devices.
KW - light-responsive polymers
KW - magnetic responsive polymers
KW - soft robotics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85088879428&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1073/pnas.2004748117
DO - 10.1073/pnas.2004748117
M3 - Article
C2 - 32661153
AN - SCOPUS:85088879428
SN - 1091-6490
VL - 117
SP - 17571
EP - 17577
JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS)
JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS)
IS - 30
ER -