Researchers from Jiangsu University have developed a new class of soft robotic actuators capable of programmable climbing, grasping, and shape-shifting motion through remote light control. Published on October 11, 2025, in the Chinese Journal of Polymer Science with DOI 10.1007/s10118-025-3418-3, this work represents a significant advancement in creating autonomous soft robots for unstructured environments where traditional rigid robots cannot operate.
The innovation centers on liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs), materials that undergo reversible deformation when stimulated by light or heat. By integrating photothermal-responsive silver nanowires and mechanically pre-aligned LCEs in a hierarchical design, the researchers created actuators that achieve precise, reversible helical actuation previously difficult with traditional fabrication methods. The tri-layer structure enhances near-infrared (NIR) light absorption through localized surface plasmon resonance, enabling efficient photothermal-mechanical conversion without direct physical contact.
These bioinspired actuators demonstrate multiple motion patterns including vine-like curling, koala-style pole climbing, and adaptive grasping across varied terrains such as caves, hill slopes, and canyons. The climbing mechanism operates through sequential contraction of different actuator regions driven by traveling temperature gradients during NIR scanning, with infrared imaging confirming coordinated heat transfer. One climbing device advanced approximately 5–7 millimeters per cycle and could climb inclined rods while carrying a 1.6-gram load.
A particularly significant breakthrough involves Möbius topological programming, where 180-degree twist structures enable reversible actuation while 360-degree twists produce self-locking deformation. This creates mechanical memory and locking structures that form concentric rings or "8-shaped" states depending on illumination, providing a new route for energy-efficient locomotion and deployable devices without traditional motors or electronics.
The implications of this research extend across multiple fields where remote, adaptable manipulation is crucial. In search-and-rescue operations, these soft robots could navigate through rubble and confined spaces inaccessible to conventional robots. For biomedical applications, they offer potential as minimally invasive surgical tools that can be guided and controlled externally. Environmental exploration and pipeline inspection represent additional domains where these shape-morphing systems could operate autonomously under NIR guidance.
This work demonstrates how controlling molecular orientation and topology at multiple scales enables motion patterns resembling biological systems like octopus tentacles and plant tendrils. The researchers emphasize that their approach provides a general framework for designing future soft robotic systems capable of navigating complex three-dimensional environments, with potential development focusing on integrating sensing modules, increasing response speed, and creating untethered autonomous platforms.
