New soft robot can repeatedly leap into the air when exposed to infrared light

The soft robots that leap when exposed to infrared light. PIC COURTESY/Fangjie Qi

A teardrop-shaped soft robot can jump continuously under infrared light without manual resets. Made of a liquid crystal elastomer ribbon with a stiff, V-shaped aluminum end, the robot contracts when illuminated.

The V-shape restricts normal rolling, forcing the ribbon to twist and store elastic energy. Once fully charged, it snaps down against the surface to launch into the air, resetting its shape.

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