Project Overview

Soft robots driven by stimuli-responsive materials have unique advantages over conventional rigid robots, especially in their high adaptability for field exploration and seamless interaction with humans. The grand challenge lies in achieving self-powered soft robots with high mobility, environmental tolerance, and long endurance. We are able to advance a soft electronic fish with a fully integrated onboard system for power and remote control. Without any motor, the fish is driven solely by a soft electroactive structure made of dielectric elastomer and ionically conductive hydrogel.

 
A team of engineers from Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China, have recently developed a manta ray inspired soft robotic fish with a fully integrated onboard system for power and remote control.
 
 
A soft-bodied robot that can swim like a manta ray has been created at China's Zhejiang University. The less than 20 centimeter robots that can swim as fast as six centimeters per second have been developed for information gathering in lakes and oceans.