Facile Fabrication of Soft Robots With Temperature/Humidity/Magnetic Field Responsiveness for Cargo Transportation in Complex Terrains

摘要

ABSTRACT Soft robots demonstrate remarkable potential in diverse environments because of their flexibility and compliance. Although various soft robots capable of independently responding to multiple external stimuli have been developed, challenges persist in the integration of multiple responses and the avoidance of interference among them. This study develops an amphibious soft robot with triple‐response capabilities to temperature, humidity, and magnetic fields. Through the implementation of a strong alkali modification strategy on polyimide films, polyimide acid was successfully formed on the surface, enabling the processing of composite films. This composite film was endowed with dual‐responsive characteristics to temperature and humidity. Additionally, by integrating magnetic particles, the composite film constructs a triple‐response feature in conjunction with magnetic driving modules. The soft robot developed from the triple‐responsive composite film can rapidly transition capabilities between submerged/terrestrial and submerged/surface environments, demonstrating exceptional environmental adaptability. This amphibious soft robot can achieve speeds exceeding 4 cm/s (∼12 body lengths/s) in various environments. The maximum speed attainable on the water surface is 9.6 cm/s (∼32 body lengths/s). This performance reached the normal moving speed of insects such as ants and whirligig beetles. Furthermore, by utilizing the cooperative interplay of multiple stimuli‐responsive mechanisms, the soft robot achieves selective swarm manipulation, controllable cargo transportation, and targeted release in complex terrains. It can carry objects weighing up to 2.5 times its own weight. This multimodal actuation strategy reveals significant potential for smart robots' development.