Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have developed a soft robotic material that can sense nearby objects and grasp them when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, drawing inspiration from the Venus flytrap, according to Chinese automotive news outlet D1EV.
Combining skin and muscle in one material
The team, led by Professor Hong Chul Moon of KAIST's Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, created an ionic soft robot named "Ionograsper." The material integrates the functions of a robot's "skin" — detecting objects — and its "muscles" — producing movement — into a single polymer network, eliminating the need for separate sensors and actuators that would otherwise add components and wiring to a flexible robot.
When a charged object approaches, ions inside the material shift and generate an electrical signal. Under UV light, the material bends and grasps the object. Notably, it retains its deformed shape for more than 10 minutes after the light source is turned off, a property the researchers say could reduce the number of components and lines needed in soft robotic grippers.
The material combines azobenzene, a compound that changes shape when exposed to light, with a hygroscopic polymer that absorbs moisture from the air, forming a network in which ions can move. This design approach helps simplify the structure of soft robots, which typically require both sensors and actuators to be mounted separately.
Still in the research stage
The work remains at an early research stage: the material currently detects charged objects and is driven by UV light. The team plans to improve its sensing distance, actuation speed, durability under repeated use, and load-bearing capacity, and to make it responsive to visible or near-infrared light.
"Instead of installing a robot's 'skin' and 'muscles' separately, we created a single material that integrates sensing and actuation — it can both perceive objects and be driven by light to produce movement. Its key feature is that it retains its deformed shape even after the light source is turned off," Professor Moon said. He added that the team intends to combine the material with AI control technology to develop sensing and actuation materials suitable for physical AI robots.
The research was reported by D1EV, which republished the content from Gasgoo, a Chinese automotive industry media outlet.
