Autonomous Soft Robots Empowered by Chemical Reaction Networks (Adv. Mater. 7/2023)

Abstract

Hydrogel Actuators In article number 2209870, Stefano Di Stefano, Andreas Walther, and co-workers show how pH feedback systems with programmable lifetimes and pH-responsive actuators can be combined to make autonomous soft robotic devices that perform tasks in a pre-organized fashion. Such autonomous robots enable, for instance “fire-and-forget” operation for interlocking of complex interfaces or for gripping objects through small openings.