Multimodal Sensory-Motorized Material Systems

WHAT

MULTIMODAL will develop sensory-motorized material systems that perceive several coupled environmental stimuli and respond to a combination of these via controlled motor functions, shape-change, or locomotion. The sensory-motorized materials will be trained to strengthen upon repetitive action; they can heal upon injury and mechanically adapt to different environments. They will be utilized in the design of soft robots with autonomous and interactive functions.

HOW

We will utilize shape-changing liquid crystal networks (LCNs) that undergo controlled untethered motions in response to photochemical, (photo)thermal, and humidity-triggered activation.

Gated Control Strategies

Coupling between these stimuli will allow for gated control strategies over the shape changes. I expect that the gated control strategies, in combination with stimuli-induced diffusion from surface to bulk of the LCN, will enable advanced robotic functionalities.

Diffusion Process

The diffusion process will be used for supramolecular crosslinking and formation of interpenetrated dynamic polymer networks with the LCN, to allow for trainable gaiting for versatile locomotion control. We will also make mechanically adaptable amphibious grippers for autonomous object recognition.

WHY

Technological disruptions are often due to new materials and fabrication technologies. Paradigm changes in how materials are perceived have profound effects on our society, well-being, and the ways we see the world.

Striving for Change

Here, we strive for a paradigm change in robotic materials. By taking inspiration from biological sensory-motor interactions, we will develop MULTIMODAL materials with autonomous and interactive features. These features go far beyond the capabilities of conventional stimuli-responsive materials, allowing us to take inanimate, shape-changing materials one ambitious step closer to the motor functions of living species.