A continuum device/manipulator includes a first flexible tube, a low melting point (LMP) alloy disposed within the first flexible tube, and a temperature adjustment element that applies heat or cooling to change a phase of the LMP alloy. Changing the phase of the LMP alloy controls a flexibility of the first flexible tube.

A continuum device/manipulator includes a first flexible tube, a low melting point (LMP) alloy disposed within the first flexible tube, and a temperature adjustment element that applies heat or cooling to change a phase of the LMP alloy. Changing the phase of the LMP alloy controls a flexibility of the first flexible tube.

A soft material comprises a film and a gel system covered by the film. The film is made of polydimethylsiloxane, polytetrafluoroethylene, polymethyl methacrylate, polyxylene, polystyrene, rubber or nylon. The gel system comprises a gel and saline solution. The gel is a polymer network structure, and the saline solution is infilled in interspaces of the polymer network structure. The film is electrostatically neutral, and the soft material has an original electrostatic equilibrium state. When the original electrostatic equilibrium state is broken by electrostatic induction (such as being rubbed by a human hand), the gel expands or shrinks. The disclosure also provides a method for auto-deforming the soft material and a soft robot using the soft material.

Methods and apparatus to grasp an object with an unmanned aerial vehicle are described herein. An example unmanned aerial vehicle includes a gripper having a claw to grasp onto an object and an active material disposed on the claw. The example unmanned aerial vehicle further includes a material activator to: (1) apply an activation signal to the active material to soften the active material while the claw grasps the object with the active material, and (2) allow the active material to harden in a shape substantially matching a surface of the object.

Aspects provide fluid responsive actuators and methods of using fluid responsive actuators capable of generating a power-to-volume ratio sufficient to inject a drug from a syringe within an injection period from about 1 to about 60 seconds after exposure of the fluid responsive elements to a fluid. The fluid responsive actuators can be used to inject viscous drugs to a patient.

A photo-responsive composite actuator according to the present invention includes a polymeric scaffold film; an azobenzene liquid crystal polymer applied on a surface of the polymeric scaffold film; and a protective film attached to a surface of the azobenzene liquid crystal polymer.

A biomimetics based robot and process for simulation is disclosed. The robot may include filament driven and fluid pumped elastomer based artificial muscles coordinated for slow twitch/fast twitch contraction and movement of the robot by one or more microcontrollers. A process may provide physics based simulation for movement of a robot in a virtual setting. Successfully tested movement data may be stored and embedded into a robot at build and/or before a new movement in programmed into the robot.

A rotary engine that generates electricity using differences in relative humidity. A water-responsive material expands and contracts as water evaporates which drives the rotation of two wheels. The rotary motion drives an electrical generator which produces electricity. In another embodiment, the water-responsive material is used to actuate an artificial muscle of a robotic device.

A biomimetics based robot and process for simulation is disclosed. The robot may include filament driven and fluid pumped elastomer based artificial muscles coordinated for slow twitch/fast twitch contraction and movement of the robot by one or more microcontrollers. A process may provide physics based simulation for movement of a robot in a virtual setting. Successfully tested movement data may be stored and embedded into a robot at build and/or before a new movement in programmed into the robot.