Liquid Metal-Enabled Soft Actuators for Untethered Manipulation

Abstract

Recently, the newly emerging soft robotics has attracted extensive interest because of its flexible actuating strategies, compatibility for various working occasions, and safe interaction with humans. Among the various strategies to actuate soft devices, the very one based on magnetic manipulation is promising as the untethered control will be beneficial for the ultimate autonomy of soft robots. Therefore, the development of magnetic responsive materials as well as proper soft structures, should be taken into consideration. The room-temperature liquid metal (LM) has recently become a promising kind of functional material due to its unique characteristics. Moreover, the superiority of LM to construct soft composites with multi-functions will expand its role in the field of soft robots. Here in this article, a kind of functional multilayer structure assisted by soft magnetic LMs was introduced, which featured magnetic responsiveness, ease of fabrication, and flexibility of usage. Based on this structure, a series of soft actuators with specific configurations were proposed and manufactured. Motions about terrestrial locomotion, jumping, and periodical flowering were fulfilled, respectively. Furthermore, two occasions about load transportation and electrical switch were performed to prove their potentials in practical use. We hope that such a magnetic LM enabled structure can have more applications in advanced soft robots in the future.