Shaping the future of robotics through materials innovation

Autonomous snapping and jumping polymer gels

(2021) Yongjin Kim et al.   NATURE MATERIALS

Coupled liquid crystalline oscillators in Huygens’ synchrony

(2021) Ghislaine Vantomme et al.   NATURE MATERIALS

Electronics-free pneumatic circuits for controlling soft-legged robots

(2021) Dylan Drotman et al.   Science Robotics

Soft Materials by Design: Unconventional Polymer Networks Give Extreme Properties

(2021) Xuanhe Zhao et al.   CHEMICAL REVIEWS

Elastohydrodynamic friction of robotic and human fingers on soft micropatterned substrates

(2021) Yunhu Peng et al.   NATURE MATERIALS

Hard questions for soft robotics

(2021) Elliot W. Hawkes et al.   Science Robotics

Voxelated three-dimensional miniature magnetic soft machines via multimaterial heterogeneous assembly

(2021) Jiachen Zhang et al.   Science Robotics

Adaptive and multifunctional hydrogel hybrid probes for long-term sensing and modulation of neural activity

(2021) Seongjun Park et al.   Nature Communications

Hydrogel Adhesion: A Supramolecular Synergy of Chemistry, Topology, and Mechanics

(2019) Jiawei Yang et al.   ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS

Electrolytic vascular systems for energy-dense robots

(2019) Cameron A. Aubin et al.   NATURE

Millimeter-scale flexible robots with programmable three-dimensional magnetization and motions

(2019) Tianqi Xu et al.   Science Robotics

An analytical model for the design of Peano-HASEL actuators with drastically improved performance

(2019) Nicholas Kellaris et al.   Extreme Mechanics Letters

Reducing the metabolic rate of walking and running with a versatile, portable exosuit

(2019) Jinsoo Kim et al.   SCIENCE

Optical lace for synthetic afferent neural networks

(2019) Patricia A. Xu et al.   Science Robotics

Ferromagnetic soft continuum robots

(2019) Yoonho Kim et al.   Science Robotics

Hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatic actuators with muscle-like performance

(2018) E. Acome et al.   SCIENCE

Printing ferromagnetic domains for untethered fast-transforming soft materials

(2018) Yoonho Kim et al.   NATURE

Small-scale soft-bodied robot with multimodal locomotion

(2018) Wenqi Hu et al.   NATURE

Exo-Glove Poly II: A Polymer-Based Soft Wearable Robot for the Hand with a Tendon-Driven Actuation System

(2018) Brian Byunghyun Kang et al.   Soft Robotics

Soft robotic sleeve supports heart function

(2017) Ellen T. Roche et al.   Science Translational Medicine

An integrated design and fabrication strategy for entirely soft, autonomous robots

(2016) Michael Wehner et al.   NATURE

Versatile Soft Grippers with Intrinsic Electroadhesion Based on Multifunctional Polymer Actuators

(2015) Jun Shintake et al.   ADVANCED MATERIALS

Tough bonding of hydrogels to diverse non-porous surfaces

(2015) Hyunwoo Yuk et al.   NATURE MATERIALS

A 3D-printed, functionally graded soft robot powered by combustion

(2015) N. W. Bartlett et al.   SCIENCE

Ionic skin

(2014) Jeong-Yun Sun et al.   ADVANCED MATERIALS

Artificial Muscles from Fishing Line and Sewing Thread

(2014) C. S. Haines et al.   SCIENCE

An ultra-lightweight design for imperceptible plastic electronics

(2013) Martin Kaltenbrunner et al.   NATURE

Stretchable, Transparent, Ionic Conductors

(2013) C. Keplinger et al.   SCIENCE

Soft Robotics for Chemists

(2011) Filip Ilievski et al.   ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION

Skin-like pressure and strain sensors based on transparent elastic films of carbon nanotubes

(2011) Darren J. Lipomi et al.   Nature Nanotechnology

Epidermal Electronics

(2011) D.-H. Kim et al.   SCIENCE

Liquid Crystalline Elastomers as Actuators and Sensors

(2010) Christian Ohm et al.   ADVANCED MATERIALS