Fast-moving soft electronic fish

Soft robots driven by stimuli-responsive materials have unique advantages over conventional rigid robots, especially in their high adaptability for field exploration and seamless interaction with humans. The grand challenge lies in achieving self-powered soft robots with high mobility, environmental tolerance, and long endurance. We are able to advance a soft electronic fish with a fully integrated onboard system for power and remote control. Without any motor, the fish is driven solely by a soft electroactive structure made of dielectric elastomer and ionically conductive hydrogel. The electronic fish can swim at a speed of 6.4 cm/s (0.69 body length per second), which is much faster than previously reported…

• CA
  China Association for Science and Technology

  Award: ID0EMMAK16282
• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 11532011, ID0EBHAK16281, 11572280, 11302190, 11321202, U1613202 and 11432012, ID0E3XAK16284