Light-powered self-rolling of a liquid crystal elastomer-based dicycle

• Published in: Applied mathematics and mechanics Vol. 46; no. 2; pp. 253 - 268
• Main Authors: Li, Kai, Zhao, Chongfeng, Qiu, Yunlong, Dai, Yuntong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.02.2025; Springer Nature B.V
• Edition: English ed.
• Subjects: Angular velocity; Applications of Mathematics; Center of gravity; Classical Mechanics; Coefficient of friction; Elastomers; Energy harvesting; Fluid- and Aerodynamics; Light; Light sources; Liquid crystals; Luminous intensity; Mathematical Modeling and Industrial Mathematics; Mathematics; Mathematics and Statistics; Microrobots; Parameter identification; Partial Differential Equations; Penetration depth; Robots; Rolling resistance; Soft robotics; O322; O323; 74H45; self-rolling; dicycle; rod; liquid crystal elastomer (LCE); light-powered; 74M05

Conventional liquid crystal elastomer (LCE)-based robots are limited by the need for complex controllers and bulky power supplies, restricting their use in micro-robots and soft robots. This paper introduces a novel light-powered dicycle that uses an LCE rod, enabling self-rolling by harvesting ener...