"Mode shifting shape memory polymer and hydrogel composite fiber actuat" by Jung Gi Choi, Geoffrey M. Spinks et al.
Soft robotics is a promising new field offering robot systems that mimic the versatility and complexity of movement and propulsion seen in natural organisms. Such systems require complex actuation including length expansion/contraction, bending and torsion. To date, such actuators have been configured individually. Here, it is shown that composite fibers formed from a shape memory polymer and a thermo-sensitive hydrogel could be configured into any one of the tensile, torsional and flexural actuators. Furthermore, the programmed mode of actuation could be thermally erased and the same fiber re...
Source: uow.edu.au