Researchers have extended their earlier work on soft robots by creating a “brainless” version capable of navigating more complex and dynamic environments independently. The soft robot uses physical intelligence, relying on its structural design and material properties rather than computer or human guidance.
The soft robot is constructed from ribbon-like liquid crystal elastomers. When placed on a surface hotter than the ambient air, a portion of the ribbon in contact with the surface contracts while the exposed part does not, inducing a rolling motion. The warmer the surface, the faster the robot rolls.
However, unlike the previous symmetrical design, the new soft robot has an asymmetrical structure with two distinct halves. One half resembles a twisted ribbon extending in a straight line, while the other half is more tightly twisted and spirals around itself.
The asymmetry of the design allows one end of the robot to exert more force on the ground than the other, causing the robot to turn without requiring contact with an object. This capability enables it to navigate twisty mazes and negotiate its way around moving obstacles without getting stuck between parallel objects.
The researchers demonstrated the robot’s ability to navigate complex mazes, including those with moving walls, and to fit through narrow spaces narrower than its body size. The robot was tested on both a metal surface and in sand.
The development of this asymmetrical soft robot design represents progress in soft robot design, particularly for applications where such robots can harness heat energy from their environment, offering potential for innovative applications.
