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Yao-Yu Xiao and Zhi-Chao Jiang

PhD students in Chemistry
Université de Sherbrooke

Award-winning publication: Biomimetic Locomotion of Electrically Powered “Janus” Soft Robots Using a Liquid Crystal Polymer

Published in: Advanced Materials
 

Abstract

As part of their research, Yao-Yu Xiao and Zhi-Chao Jiang relied on a liquid crystal polymer to develop soft robots. Powered by an intermittent electric current, the robots are able to crawl like a caterpillar by stretching and contracting to mimick an undulating movement and walk like an animal on four legs and even on two legs while pushing a load. Unlike standard robots, which are built from circuits and devices controlled by a computer system, the soft robots only require thin resistive wires to generate a heating effect. They represent a giant step toward a new generation of robots.