Novel liquid crystal elastomer optical fibers enable multifunctional actuation and precise control for robotic applications, highlighting advances in soft robotics and artificial muscles.
Key Points
Artificial muscles using liquid crystal elastomer optical fibers demonstrate over 40% contraction strain with minimal interference.
The fabricated optical fibers can lift over 4000 times their own weight, showcasing remarkable strength.
Bundling multiple fibers allows for complex deformations, including omnidirectional bending and torsion.
These advancements present new opportunities for smart actuators in robotics and biomedical devices.