Alfonso Ngan

Abstract:

In this talk, Material Intelligence (MI) will be introduced as a novel concept and key enabling technology for insect-scale robotics for new engineering applications. MI is defined here to be the science, methodology and application of materials with the abilities to sense and respond to stimuli, and adapt to/learn from their environments for robotic applications to accomplish desired tasks. With a delocalized suite of functions MI enables intelligent robotic systems to be constructed at the insect scale where conventional sensors and actuators (such as electromagnetic, pneumatic or hydraulic motors) are too bulky to be employed. Through the discovery of new materials exhibiting stimuli-induced chemo/physio-mechanical reactions or phase transformations, and development of methods for their integration to achieve compact material systems with intelligent capabilities, MI enables robotic devices to be built at the insect scale. MI will be illustrated in this talk using visible-light-driven, dual-responsive materials such as manganese-based oxides, which exhibit high actuation performance and electrical resistivity changes under light illumination. Utilizing these properties, compact micro-robotic devices capable of self-sensing and responding to visible light to perform complex motions along multi-selectable configurational pathways are fabricated. Intelligent robotic functions including self-adapting load lifting, object sorting, and on-demand structural stiffening are demonstrated in these devices. This talk will also present novel enabling techniques including direct printing of robots using open-electrodeposition and key chemo-mechanics principles for analyzing robotic performances. The concepts demonstrated here lay down a solid foundation for creating robotic intelligence using multi-stimuli-responsive materials.