“These soft robots demonstrate a concept called ‘physical intelligence,’ meaning that structural design and smart materials are what allow the soft robot to navigate various situations, as opposed to computational intelligence,” said corresponding author of the study, Jie Yin.
The soft robots are made of liquid crystal elastomers in the shape of a twisted ribbon, resembling translucent rotini.
When the ribbon is placed on a surface that is at least 55°C, which is hotter than the ambient air, the portion of the ribbon touching the surface contracts, while the portion of the ribbon exposed to the air does not.
This induces a rolling motion in the ribbon: the warmer the surface, the faster it rolls.
“This has been done before with smooth-sided rods, but that shape has a drawback: when it encounters an object, it simply spins in place,” Yin said. “The soft robot we’ve made in a twisted ribbon shape is capable of negotiating these obstacles with...