用多功能柔性电子设备耦合柔体和动态运动是具有挑战性的,但是对于满足完全软和全面的机器人系统的紧急和飙升的需求至关重要,这些机器人系统可以在严格的空间约束下执行任务。这里,具有柔性电子设备功能的液滴的移动性和适应性,和使用液滴作为柔性装置载体的技术相结合。产生的活性液滴(AD)的体积范围为150至600µL,可以执行可编程功能,比如感应,致动,和能量收集由承载的柔性设备定义,并在重力或磁力的激励下移动。它们在干燥和潮湿的环境中工作,并通过可逆变形来适应周围环境。这些AD可以在干燥表面上以226cmmin-1的最大速度实现可控运动,在液体环境中以32cmmin-1的最大速度实现可控运动。概念系统可能最终导致可单独寻址的AD,为高通量分子分析提供复杂的功能,药物评估,化学合成,和信息收集。
Coupling soft bodies and dynamic motions with multifunctional flexible electronics is challenging, but is essential in satisfying the urgent and soaring demands of fully soft and comprehensive robotic systems that can perform tasks in spite of rigorous spatial constraints. Here, the mobility and adaptability of liquid droplets with the functionality of flexible electronics, and techniques to use droplets as carriers for flexible devices are combined. The resulting active droplets (ADs) with volumes ranging from 150 to 600 µL can conduct programmable functions, such as sensing, actuation, and energy harvesting defined by the carried flexible devices and move under the excitation of gravitational force or magnetic force. They work in both dry and wet environments, and adapt to the surrounding environment through reversible shape shifting. These ADs can achieve controllable motions at a maximum velocity of 226 cm min-1 on a dry surface and 32 cm min-1 in a liquid environment. The conceptual system may eventually lead to individually addressable ADs that offer sophisticated functions for high-throughput molecule analysis, drug assessment, chemical synthesis, and information collection.