1
|
Tam R, Harris TJC. Reshaping the Syncytial Drosophila Embryo with Cortical Actin Networks: Four Main Steps of Early Development. Results Probl Cell Differ 2024; 71:67-90. [PMID: 37996673 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-37936-9_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Drosophila development begins as a syncytium. The large size of the one-cell embryo makes it ideal for studying the structure, regulation, and effects of the cortical actin cytoskeleton. We review four main steps of early development that depend on the actin cortex. At each step, dynamic remodelling of the cortex has specific effects on nuclei within the syncytium. During axial expansion, a cortical actomyosin network assembles and disassembles with the cell cycle, generating cytoplasmic flows that evenly distribute nuclei along the ovoid cell. When nuclei move to the cell periphery, they seed Arp2/3-based actin caps which grow into an array of dome-like compartments that house the nuclei as they divide at the cell cortex. To separate germline nuclei from the soma, posterior germ plasm induces full cleavage of mono-nucleated primordial germ cells from the syncytium. Finally, zygotic gene expression triggers formation of the blastoderm epithelium via cellularization and simultaneous division of ~6000 mono-nucleated cells from a single internal yolk cell. During these steps, the cortex is regulated in space and time, gains domain and sub-domain structure, and undergoes mesoscale interactions that lay a structural foundation of animal development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Tam
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tony J C Harris
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zheng X, Zhang X, Chen TT, Watanabe I. Deep Learning in Mechanical Metamaterials: From Prediction and Generation to Inverse Design. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2302530. [PMID: 37332101 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202302530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Mechanical metamaterials are meticulously designed structures with exceptional mechanical properties determined by their microstructures and constituent materials. Tailoring their material and geometric distribution unlocks the potential to achieve unprecedented bulk properties and functions. However, current mechanical metamaterial design considerably relies on experienced designers' inspiration through trial and error, while investigating their mechanical properties and responses entails time-consuming mechanical testing or computationally expensive simulations. Nevertheless, recent advancements in deep learning have revolutionized the design process of mechanical metamaterials, enabling property prediction and geometry generation without prior knowledge. Furthermore, deep generative models can transform conventional forward design into inverse design. Many recent studies on the implementation of deep learning in mechanical metamaterials are highly specialized, and their pros and cons may not be immediately evident. This critical review provides a comprehensive overview of the capabilities of deep learning in property prediction, geometry generation, and inverse design of mechanical metamaterials. Additionally, this review highlights the potential of leveraging deep learning to create universally applicable datasets, intelligently designed metamaterials, and material intelligence. This article is expected to be valuable not only to researchers working on mechanical metamaterials but also those in the field of materials informatics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyang Zheng
- Center for Basic Research on Materials, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, 305-0047, Japan
- Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, 305-8573, Japan
| | - Xubo Zhang
- Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, 305-8573, Japan
| | - Ta-Te Chen
- Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan
- National Institute for Materials Science, 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, 305-0047, Japan
| | - Ikumu Watanabe
- Center for Basic Research on Materials, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, 305-0047, Japan
- Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, 305-8573, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Allein F, Anastasiadis A, Chaunsali R, Frankel I, Boechler N, Diakonos FK, Theocharis G. Strain topological metamaterials and revealing hidden topology in higher-order coordinates. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6633. [PMID: 37857621 PMCID: PMC10587163 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42321-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Topological physics has revolutionized materials science, introducing topological phases of matter in diverse settings ranging from quantum to photonic and phononic systems. Herein, we present a family of topological systems, which we term "strain topological metamaterials", whose topological properties are hidden and unveiled only under higher-order (strain) coordinate transformations. We firstly show that the canonical mass dimer, a model that can describe various settings such as electrical circuits and optics, among others, belongs to this family where strain coordinates reveal a topological nontriviality for the edge states at free boundaries. Subsequently, we introduce a mechanical analog of the Majorana-supporting Kitaev chain, which supports topological edge states for both fixed and free boundaries within the proposed framework. Thus, our findings not only extend the way topological edge states are identified, but also promote the fabrication of novel topological metamaterials in various fields, with more complex, tailored boundaries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Florian Allein
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Centrale Lille, Junia, Univ. Polytechnique Hauts-de-France, UMR 8520-IEMN-Institut d'Electronique de Microélectronique et de Nanotechnologie, 59000, Lille, France
| | - Adamantios Anastasiadis
- Laboratoire d'Acoustique de l'Université du Mans (LAUM), UMR 6613, Institut d'Acoustique-Graduate School (IA-GS), CNRS, Le Mans Université, Le Mans, France
| | - Rajesh Chaunsali
- Department of Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India
| | - Ian Frankel
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Nicholas Boechler
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | | | - Georgios Theocharis
- Laboratoire d'Acoustique de l'Université du Mans (LAUM), UMR 6613, Institut d'Acoustique-Graduate School (IA-GS), CNRS, Le Mans Université, Le Mans, France.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Jiao P, Mueller J, Raney JR, Zheng XR, Alavi AH. Mechanical metamaterials and beyond. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6004. [PMID: 37752150 PMCID: PMC10522661 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41679-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Mechanical metamaterials enable the creation of structural materials with unprecedented mechanical properties. However, thus far, research on mechanical metamaterials has focused on passive mechanical metamaterials and the tunability of their mechanical properties. Deep integration of multifunctionality, sensing, electrical actuation, information processing, and advancing data-driven designs are grand challenges in the mechanical metamaterials community that could lead to truly intelligent mechanical metamaterials. In this perspective, we provide an overview of mechanical metamaterials within and beyond their classical mechanical functionalities. We discuss various aspects of data-driven approaches for inverse design and optimization of multifunctional mechanical metamaterials. Our aim is to provide new roadmaps for design and discovery of next-generation active and responsive mechanical metamaterials that can interact with the surrounding environment and adapt to various conditions while inheriting all outstanding mechanical features of classical mechanical metamaterials. Next, we deliberate the emerging mechanical metamaterials with specific functionalities to design informative and scientific intelligent devices. We highlight open challenges ahead of mechanical metamaterial systems at the component and integration levels and their transition into the domain of application beyond their mechanical capabilities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pengcheng Jiao
- Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jochen Mueller
- Department of Civil and Systems Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jordan R Raney
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Xiaoyu Rayne Zheng
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Amir H Alavi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Tholen HM, Ambulo CP, Lee KM, Buskohl PR, Harne RL. Optomechanical computing in liquid crystal elastomers. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:6978-6986. [PMID: 37665593 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm00819c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Embodied decision-making in soft, engineered matter has sparked recent interest towards the development of intelligent materials. Such decision-making capabilities can be realized in soft materials via digital information processing with combinational logic operations. Although previous research has explored soft material actuators and embedded logic in soft materials, achieving a high degree of autonomy in these material systems remains a challenge. Light is an ideal stimulus to trigger information processing in soft materials due to its low thermal effect and remote use. Thus, one approach for developing soft, autonomous materials is to integrate optomechanical computing capabilities in photoresponsive materials. Here, we establish a methodology to embed combinational logic circuitry in a photoresponsive liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) film. These LCEs are designed with embedded switches and integrated circuitry using liquid metal-based conductive traces. The resulting optomechanical computing LCEs can effectively process optical information via light, thermal, and mechanical energy conversion. The methods introduced in this work to fabricate a material capable of optical information processing can facilitate the implementation of a sense of sight in soft robotic systems and other compliant devices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haley M Tholen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
| | - Cedric P Ambulo
- Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH, USA
- Azimuth Corporation, Fairborn, OH, USA
| | - Kyung Min Lee
- Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH, USA
- Azimuth Corporation, Fairborn, OH, USA
| | - Philip R Buskohl
- Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH, USA
| | - Ryan L Harne
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Blackiston D, Kriegman S, Bongard J, Levin M. Biological Robots: Perspectives on an Emerging Interdisciplinary Field. Soft Robot 2023; 10:674-686. [PMID: 37083430 PMCID: PMC10442684 DOI: 10.1089/soro.2022.0142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in science and engineering often reveal the limitations of classical approaches initially used to understand, predict, and control phenomena. With progress, conceptual categories must often be re-evaluated to better track recently discovered invariants across disciplines. It is essential to refine frameworks and resolve conflicting boundaries between disciplines such that they better facilitate, not restrict, experimental approaches and capabilities. In this essay, we address specific questions and critiques which have arisen in response to our research program, which lies at the intersection of developmental biology, computer science, and robotics. In the context of biological machines and robots, we explore changes across concepts and previously distinct fields that are driven by recent advances in materials, information, and life sciences. Herein, each author provides their own perspective on the subject, framed by their own disciplinary training. We argue that as with computation, certain aspects of developmental biology and robotics are not tied to specific materials; rather, the consilience of these fields can help to shed light on issues of multiscale control, self-assembly, and relationships between form and function. We hope new fields can emerge as boundaries arising from technological limitations are overcome, furthering practical applications from regenerative medicine to useful synthetic living machines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Douglas Blackiston
- Department of Biology, Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Institute for Computationally Designed Organisms, Massachusetts and Vermont, USA
| | - Sam Kriegman
- Institute for Computationally Designed Organisms, Massachusetts and Vermont, USA
- Center for Robotics and Biosystems, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Josh Bongard
- Institute for Computationally Designed Organisms, Massachusetts and Vermont, USA
- Department of Computer Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA
| | - Michael Levin
- Department of Biology, Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Institute for Computationally Designed Organisms, Massachusetts and Vermont, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Dudek KK, Iglesias Martínez JA, Ulliac G, Hirsinger L, Wang L, Laude V, Kadic M. Micro-Scale Mechanical Metamaterial with a Controllable Transition in the Poisson's Ratio and Band Gap Formation. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2210993. [PMID: 36863399 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202210993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The ability to significantly change the mechanical and wave propagation properties of a structure without rebuilding it is currently one of the main challenges in the field of mechanical metamaterials. This stems from the enormous appeal that such tunable behavior may offer from the perspective of applications ranging from biomedical to protective devices, particularly in the case of micro-scale systems. In this work, a novel micro-scale mechanical metamaterial is proposed that can undergo a transition from one type of configuration to another, with one configuration having a very negative Poisson's ratio, corresponding to strong auxeticity, and the other having a highly positive Poisson's ratio. The formation of phononic band gaps can also be controlled concurrently which can be very useful for the design of vibration dampers and sensors. Finally, it is experimentally shown that the reconfiguration process can be induced and controlled remotely through application of a magnetic field by using appropriately distributed magnetic inclusions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof K Dudek
- Institut FEMTO-ST, CNRS, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 25030 Besançon, France
- Institute of Physics, University of Zielona Gora, ul. Szafrana 4a, 65-069 Zielona, Gora, Poland
| | | | - Gwenn Ulliac
- Institut FEMTO-ST, CNRS, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 25030 Besançon, France
| | - Laurent Hirsinger
- Institut FEMTO-ST, CNRS, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 25030 Besançon, France
| | - Lianchao Wang
- Institut FEMTO-ST, CNRS, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 25030 Besançon, France
| | - Vincent Laude
- Institut FEMTO-ST, CNRS, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 25030 Besançon, France
| | - Muamer Kadic
- Institut FEMTO-ST, CNRS, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 25030 Besançon, France
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Wang X, Meng Z, Chen CQ. Robotic Materials Transformable Between Elasticity and Plasticity. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2206637. [PMID: 36793150 PMCID: PMC10161124 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202206637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Robotic materials, with coupled sensing, actuation, computation, and communication, have attracted increasing attention because they are able to not only tune their conventional passive mechanical property via geometrical transformation or material phase change but also become adaptive and even intelligent to suit varying environments. However, the mechanical behavior of most robotic materials is either reversible (elastic) or irreversible (plastic), but not transformable between them. Here, a robotic material whose behavior is transformable between elastic and plastic is developed, based upon an extended neutrally stable tensegrity structure. The transformation does not depend on conventional phase transition and is fast. By integrating with sensors, the elasticity-plasticity transformable (EPT) material is able to self-sense deformation and decides whether to undergo transformation or not. This work expands the capability of the mechanical property modulation of robotic materials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinyuan Wang
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, CNMM and AML, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China
| | - Zhiqiang Meng
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, CNMM and AML, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China
| | - Chang Qing Chen
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, CNMM and AML, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Yang X, Lan L, Pan X, Di Q, Liu X, Li L, Naumov P, Zhang H. Bioinspired soft robots based on organic polymer-crystal hybrid materials with response to temperature and humidity. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2287. [PMID: 37085510 PMCID: PMC10121608 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37964-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The capability of stimulated response by mechanical deformation to induce motion or actuation is the foundation of lightweight organic, dynamic materials for designing light and soft robots. Various biomimetic soft robots are constructed to demonstrate the vast versatility of responses and flexibility in shape-shifting. We now report that the integration of organic molecular crystals and polymers brings about synergistic improvement in the performance of both materials as a hybrid materials class, with the polymers adding hygroresponsive and thermally responsive functionalities to the crystals. The resulting hybrid dynamic elements respond within milliseconds, which represents several orders of magnitude of improvement in the time response relative to some other type of common actuators. Combining molecular crystals with polymers brings crystals as largely overlooked materials much closer to specific applications in soft (micro)robotics and related fields.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuesong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 130012, Changchun, P. R. China
| | - Linfeng Lan
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 130012, Changchun, P. R. China
| | - Xiuhong Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 130012, Changchun, P. R. China
| | - Qi Di
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 130012, Changchun, P. R. China
| | - Xiaokong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 130012, Changchun, P. R. China
| | - Liang Li
- Smart Materials Lab, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
- Department of Sciences and Engineering, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 38044, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
| | - Panče Naumov
- Smart Materials Lab, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
- Research Center for Environment and Materials, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Bul. Krste Misirkov 2, MK‒1000, Skopje, Macedonia.
- Molecular Design Institute, Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, New York, NY, 10003, USA.
| | - Hongyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 130012, Changchun, P. R. China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Su R, Chen J, Zhang X, Wang W, Li Y, He R, Fang D. 3D-Printed Micro/Nano-Scaled Mechanical Metamaterials: Fundamentals, Technologies, Progress, Applications, and Challenges. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023:e2206391. [PMID: 37026433 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202206391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Micro/nano-scaled mechanical metamaterials have attracted extensive attention in various fields attributed to their superior properties benefiting from their rationally designed micro/nano-structures. As one of the most advanced technologies in the 21st century, additive manufacturing (3D printing) opens an easier and faster path for fabricating micro/nano-scaled mechanical metamaterials with complex structures. Here, the size effect of metamaterials at micro/nano scales is introduced first. Then, the additive manufacturing technologies to fabricate mechanical metamaterials at micro/nano scales are introduced. The latest research progress on micro/nano-scaled mechanical metamaterials is also reviewed according to the type of materials. In addition, the structural and functional applications of micro/nano-scaled mechanical metamaterials are further summarized. Finally, the challenges, including advanced 3D printing technologies, novel material development, and innovative structural design, for micro/nano-scaled mechanical metamaterials are discussed, and future perspectives are provided. The review aims to provide insight into the research and development of 3D-printed micro/nano-scaled mechanical metamaterials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruyue Su
- State Key Laboratory of Explosion Science and Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
- Institute of Advanced Structure Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
| | - Jingyi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Explosion Science and Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
- Institute of Advanced Structure Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
| | - Xueqin Zhang
- Institute of Advanced Structure Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
| | - Wenqing Wang
- Institute of Advanced Structure Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
| | - Ying Li
- State Key Laboratory of Explosion Science and Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
- Institute of Advanced Structure Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
| | - Rujie He
- State Key Laboratory of Explosion Science and Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
- Institute of Advanced Structure Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
| | - Daining Fang
- Institute of Advanced Structure Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Giordano G, Murali Babu SP, Mazzolai B. Soft robotics towards sustainable development goals and climate actions. Front Robot AI 2023; 10:1116005. [PMID: 37008983 PMCID: PMC10064016 DOI: 10.3389/frobt.2023.1116005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Soft robotics technology can aid in achieving United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement through development of autonomous, environmentally responsible machines powered by renewable energy. By utilizing soft robotics, we can mitigate the detrimental effects of climate change on human society and the natural world through fostering adaptation, restoration, and remediation. Moreover, the implementation of soft robotics can lead to groundbreaking discoveries in material science, biology, control systems, energy efficiency, and sustainable manufacturing processes. However, to achieve these goals, we need further improvements in understanding biological principles at the basis of embodied and physical intelligence, environment-friendly materials, and energy-saving strategies to design and manufacture self-piloting and field-ready soft robots. This paper provides insights on how soft robotics can address the pressing issue of environmental sustainability. Sustainable manufacturing of soft robots at a large scale, exploring the potential of biodegradable and bioinspired materials, and integrating onboard renewable energy sources to promote autonomy and intelligence are some of the urgent challenges of this field that we discuss in this paper. Specifically, we will present field-ready soft robots that address targeted productive applications in urban farming, healthcare, land and ocean preservation, disaster remediation, and clean and affordable energy, thus supporting some of the SDGs. By embracing soft robotics as a solution, we can concretely support economic growth and sustainable industry, drive solutions for environment protection and clean energy, and improve overall health and well-being.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Goffredo Giordano
- Bioinspired Soft Robotics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genova, Italy
- Department of Mechanics Mathematics and Management, Politecnico di Barit, Bari, Italy
- *Correspondence: Goffredo Giordano, , ; Saravana Prashanth Murali Babu, , ; Barbara Mazzolai,
| | - Saravana Prashanth Murali Babu
- SDU Soft Robotics, SDU Biorobotics, The Mærsk McKinney Møller Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- *Correspondence: Goffredo Giordano, , ; Saravana Prashanth Murali Babu, , ; Barbara Mazzolai,
| | - Barbara Mazzolai
- Bioinspired Soft Robotics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genova, Italy
- *Correspondence: Goffredo Giordano, , ; Saravana Prashanth Murali Babu, , ; Barbara Mazzolai,
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Liu J, Guo H, Liu H, Lu T. Designing Hierarchical Soft Network Materials with Developable Lattice Nodes for High Stretchability. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2206099. [PMID: 36698297 PMCID: PMC10015852 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202206099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Soft network materials (SNMs) represent one of the best candidates for the substrates and the encapsulation layers of stretchable inorganic electronics, because they are capable of precisely customizing the J-shaped stress-strain curves of biological tissues. Although a variety of microstructures and topologies have been exploited to adjust the nonlinear stress-strain responses of SNMs, the stretchability of most SNMs is hard to exceed 100%. Designing novel high-strength SNMs with much larger stretchability (e.g., >200%) than existing SNMs and conventional elastomers remains a challenge. This paper develops a class of hierarchical soft network materials (HSNMs) with developable lattice nodes, which can significantly improve the stretchability of SNMs without any loss of strength. The effects of geometric parameters, lattice topologies, and loading directions on the mechanical properties of HSNMs are systematically discussed by experiments and numerical simulations. The proposed node design strategy for SNMs is also proved to be widely applicable to different constituent materials, including polymers and metals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianxing Liu
- State Key Lab for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical StructuresSoft Machines LabDepartment of Engineering MechanicsXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710049P. R. China
| | - Haoyu Guo
- State Key Lab for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical StructuresSoft Machines LabDepartment of Engineering MechanicsXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710049P. R. China
| | - Haiyang Liu
- State Key Lab for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical StructuresSoft Machines LabDepartment of Engineering MechanicsXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710049P. R. China
| | - Tongqing Lu
- State Key Lab for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical StructuresSoft Machines LabDepartment of Engineering MechanicsXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710049P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Weeks RD, Truby RL, Uzel SGM, Lewis JA. Embedded 3D Printing of Multimaterial Polymer Lattices via Graph-Based Print Path Planning. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2206958. [PMID: 36404106 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202206958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in computational design and 3D printing enable the fabrication of polymer lattices with high strength-to-weight ratio and tailored mechanics. To date, 3D lattices composed of monolithic materials have primarily been constructed due to limitations associated with most commercial 3D printing platforms. Here, freeform fabrication of multi-material polymer lattices via embedded three-dimensional (EMB3D) printing is demonstrated. An algorithm is developed first that generates print paths for each target lattice based on graph theory. The effects of ink rheology on filamentary printing and the effects of the print path on resultant mechanical properties are then investigated. By co-printing multiple materials with different mechanical properties, a broad range of periodic and stochastic lattices with tailored mechanical responses can be realized opening new avenues for constructing architected matter.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert D Weeks
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Ryan L Truby
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Sebastien G M Uzel
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Jennifer A Lewis
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Duran H, Cuevas-Maraver J, Kevrekidis PG, Vainchtein A. Discrete breathers in a mechanical metamaterial. Phys Rev E 2023; 107:014220. [PMID: 36797898 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.107.014220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
We consider a previously experimentally realized discrete model that describes a mechanical metamaterial consisting of a chain of pairs of rigid units connected by flexible hinges. Upon analyzing the linear band structure of the model, we identify parameter regimes in which this system may possess discrete breather solutions with frequencies inside the gap between optical and acoustic dispersion bands. We compute numerically exact solutions of this type for several different parameter regimes and investigate their properties and stability. Our findings demonstrate that upon appropriate parameter tuning within experimentally tractable ranges, the system exhibits a plethora of discrete breathers, with multiple branches of solutions that feature period-doubling and symmetry-breaking bifurcations, in addition to other mechanisms of stability change such as saddle-center and Hamiltonian Hopf bifurcations. The relevant stability analysis is corroborated by direct numerical computations examining the dynamical properties of the system and paving the way for potential further experimental exploration of this rich nonlinear dynamical lattice setting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Henry Duran
- Department of Mathematics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA
| | - Jesús Cuevas-Maraver
- Grupo de Física No Lineal, Departamento de Física Aplicada I, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad de Sevilla, C/Virgen de África, 7, Sevilla 41011, Spain
- Instituto de Matemáticas de la Universidad de Sevilla (IMUS), Edificio Celestino Mutis, Avda, Reina Mercedes s/n, 41012-Sevilla, Spain
| | - Panayotis G Kevrekidis
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003-9305, USA
| | - Anna Vainchtein
- Department of Mathematics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Harrison D, Rorot W, Laukaityte U. Mind the matter: Active matter, soft robotics, and the making of bio-inspired artificial intelligence. Front Neurorobot 2022; 16:880724. [PMID: 36620483 PMCID: PMC9815774 DOI: 10.3389/fnbot.2022.880724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Philosophical and theoretical debates on the multiple realisability of the cognitive have historically influenced discussions of the possible systems capable of instantiating complex functions like memory, learning, goal-directedness, and decision-making. These debates have had the corollary of undermining, if not altogether neglecting, the materiality and corporeality of cognition-treating material, living processes as "hardware" problems that can be abstracted out and, in principle, implemented in a variety of materials-in particular on digital computers and in the form of state-of-the-art neural networks. In sum, the matter in se has been taken not to matter for cognition. However, in this paper, we argue that the materiality of cognition-and the living, self-organizing processes that it enables-requires a more detailed assessment when understanding the nature of cognition and recreating it in the field of embodied robotics. Or, in slogan form, that the matter matters for cognitive form and function. We pull from the fields of Active Matter Physics, Soft Robotics, and Basal Cognition literature to suggest that the imbrication between material and cognitive processes is closer than standard accounts of multiple realisability suggest. In light of this, we propose upgrading the notion of multiple realisability from the standard version-what we call 1.0-to a more nuanced conception 2.0 to better reflect the recent empirical advancements, while at the same time averting many of the problems that have been raised for it. These fields are actively reshaping the terrain in which we understand materiality and how it enables, mediates, and constrains cognition. We propose that taking the materiality of our embodied, precarious nature seriously furnishes an important research avenue for the development of embodied robots that autonomously value, engage, and interact with the environment in a goal-directed manner, in response to existential needs of survival, persistence, and, ultimately, reproduction. Thus, we argue that by placing further emphasis on the soft, active, and plastic nature of the materials that constitute cognitive embodiment, we can move further in the direction of autonomous embodied robots and Artificial Intelligence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Harrison
- Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom,Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence, Cambridge, United Kingdom,Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Vienna, Austria,*Correspondence: David Harrison
| | - Wiktor Rorot
- Human Interactivity and Language Lab, Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland,Wiktor Rorot
| | - Urte Laukaityte
- Department of Philosophy, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Jiang S, Liu X, Liu J, Ye D, Duan Y, Li K, Yin Z, Huang Y. Flexible Metamaterial Electronics. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2200070. [PMID: 35325478 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202200070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Over the last decade, extensive efforts have been made on utilizing advanced materials and structures to improve the properties and functionalities of flexible electronics. While the conventional ways are approaching their natural limits, a revolutionary strategy, namely metamaterials, is emerging toward engineering structural materials to break the existing fetters. Metamaterials exhibit supernatural physical behaviors, in aspects of mechanical, optical, thermal, acoustic, and electronic properties that are inaccessible in natural materials, such as tunable stiffness or Poisson's ratio, manipulating electromagnetic or elastic waves, and topological and programmable morphability. These salient merits motivate metamaterials as a brand-new research direction and have inspired extensive innovative applications in flexible electronics. Here, such a groundbreaking interdisciplinary field is first coined as "flexible metamaterial electronics," focusing on enhancing and innovating functionalities of flexible electronics via the design of metamaterials. Herein, the latest progress and trends in this infant field are reviewed while highlighting their potential value. First, a brief overview starts with introducing the combination of metamaterials and flexible electronics. Then, the developed applications are discussed, such as self-adaptive deformability, ultrahigh sensitivity, and multidisciplinary functionality, followed by the discussion of potential prospects. Finally, the challenges and opportunities facing flexible metamaterial electronics to advance this cutting-edge field are summarized.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shan Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
- Flexible Electronics Research Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Xuejun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
- Flexible Electronics Research Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Jianpeng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
- Flexible Electronics Research Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Dong Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
- Flexible Electronics Research Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Yongqing Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
- Flexible Electronics Research Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Kan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
- Flexible Electronics Research Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Zhouping Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
- Flexible Electronics Research Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - YongAn Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
- Flexible Electronics Research Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Mohammed MA, Grover P. Phase space analysis of nonlinear wave propagation in a bistable mechanical metamaterial with a defect. Phys Rev E 2022; 106:054204. [PMID: 36559465 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.106.054204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
We study the dynamics of solitary waves traveling in a one-dimensional chain of bistable elements in the presence of a local inhomogeneity ("defect"). Numerical simulations reveal that depending upon its initial speed, an incoming solitary wave can get transmitted, captured, or reflected upon interaction with the defect. The dynamics are dominated by energy exchange between the wave and a breather mode localized at the defect. We derive a reduced-order two degree of freedom Hamiltonian model for wave-breather interaction and analyze it using dynamical systems techniques. Lobe dynamics analysis reveals the fine structure of phase space that leads to the complicated dynamics in this system. This work is a step toward developing a rational approach to defect engineering for manipulating nonlinear waves in mechanical metamaterials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed A Mohammed
- Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Piyush Grover
- Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Mofatteh H, Shahryari B, Mirabolghasemi A, Seyedkanani A, Shirzadkhani R, Desharnais G, Akbarzadeh A. Programming Multistable Metamaterials to Discover Latent Functionalities. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2202883. [PMID: 36253119 PMCID: PMC9685460 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202202883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Using multistable mechanical metamaterials to develop deployable structures, electrical devices, and mechanical memories raises two unanswered questions. First, can mechanical instability be programmed to design sensors and memory devices? Second, how can mechanical properties be tuned at the post-fabrication stage via external stimuli? Answering these questions requires a thorough understanding of the snapping sequences and variations of the elastic energy in multistable metamaterials. The mechanics of deformation sequences and continuous force/energy-displacement curves are comprehensively unveiled here. A 1D array, that is chain, of bistable cells is studied to explore instability-induced energy release and snapping sequences under one external mechanical stimulus. This method offers an insight into the programmability of multistable chains, which is exploited to fabricate a mechanical sensor/memory with sampling (analog to digital-A/D) and data reconstruction (digital to analog-D/A) functionalities operating based on the correlation between the deformation sequence and the mechanical input. The findings offer a new paradigm for developing programmable high-capacity read-write mechanical memories regardless of thei size scale. Furthermore, exotic mechanical properties can be tuned by harnessing the attained programmability of multistable chains. In this respect, a transversely multistable mechanical metamaterial with tensegrity-like bistable cells is designed to showcase the tunability of chirality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Mofatteh
- Department of Bioresource EngineeringMcGill UniversityMontrealQCH9X 3V9Canada
| | - Benyamin Shahryari
- Department of Bioresource EngineeringMcGill UniversityMontrealQCH9X 3V9Canada
| | | | - Alireza Seyedkanani
- Department of Bioresource EngineeringMcGill UniversityMontrealQCH9X 3V9Canada
| | - Razieh Shirzadkhani
- Department of Bioresource EngineeringMcGill UniversityMontrealQCH9X 3V9Canada
| | | | - Abdolhamid Akbarzadeh
- Department of Bioresource EngineeringMcGill UniversityMontrealQCH9X 3V9Canada
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringMcGill UniversityMontrealQCH3A 0C3Canada
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
El Helou C, Grossmann B, Tabor CE, Buskohl PR, Harne RL. Mechanical integrated circuit materials. Nature 2022; 608:699-703. [PMID: 36002486 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05004-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Recent developments in autonomous engineered matter have introduced the ability for intelligent materials to process environmental stimuli and functionally adapt1-4. To formulate a foundation for such an engineered living material paradigm, researchers have introduced sensing5-11 and actuating12-16 functionalities in soft matter. Yet, information processing is the key functional element of autonomous engineered matter that has been recently explored through unconventional techniques with limited computing scalability17-20. Here we uncover a relation between Boolean mathematics and kinematically reconfigurable electrical circuits to realize all combinational logic operations in soft, conductive mechanical materials. We establish an analytical framework that minimizes the canonical functions of combinational logic by the Quine-McCluskey method, and governs the mechanical design of reconfigurable integrated circuit switching networks in soft matter. The resulting mechanical integrated circuit materials perform higher-level arithmetic, number comparison, and decode binary data to visual representations. We exemplify two methods to automate the design on the basis of canonical Boolean functions and individual gate-switching assemblies. We also increase the computational density of the materials by a monolithic layer-by-layer design approach. As the framework established here leverages mathematics and kinematics for system design, the proposed approach of mechanical integrated circuit materials can be realized on any length scale and in a wide variety of physics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charles El Helou
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Benjamin Grossmann
- Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
| | - Christopher E Tabor
- Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
| | - Philip R Buskohl
- Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
| | - Ryan L Harne
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Gorbushin N, Vainchtein A, Truskinovsky L. Transition fronts and their universality classes. Phys Rev E 2022; 106:024210. [PMID: 36109908 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.106.024210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Steadily moving transition (switching) fronts, associated with local transformation, symmetry breaking, or collapse, are among the most important dynamic coherent structures. The nonlinear mechanical waves of this type play a major role in many modern applications involving the transmission of mechanical information in systems ranging from crystal lattices and metamaterials to macroscopic civil engineering structures. While many different classes of such dynamic fronts are known, the interrelation between them remains obscure. Here we consider a minimal prototypical mechanical system, the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam (FPU) chain with piecewise linear nonlinearity, and show that there are exactly three distinct classes of switching fronts, which differ fundamentally in how (and whether) they produce and transport oscillations. The fact that all three types of fronts could be obtained as explicit Wiener-Hopf solutions of the same discrete FPU problem allows one to identify the exact mathematical origin of the particular features of each class. To make the underlying Hamiltonian dynamics analytically transparent, we construct a minimal quasicontinuum approximation of the FPU model that captures all three classes of the fronts and reveals interrelation between them. This approximation is of higher order than conventional ones (KdV, Boussinesq) and involves mixed space-time derivatives. The proposed framework unifies previous attempts to classify the mechanical transition fronts as radiative, dispersive, topological, or compressive and categorizes them instead as irreducible types of dynamic lattice defects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N Gorbushin
- PMMH, CNRS-UMR 7636, CNRS, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris, France
| | - A Vainchtein
- Department of Mathematics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA
| | - L Truskinovsky
- PMMH, CNRS-UMR 7636, CNRS, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Liang X, Li D. A Programmable Liquid Crystal Elastomer Metamaterials With Soft Elasticity. Front Robot AI 2022; 9:849516. [PMID: 35280962 PMCID: PMC8913480 DOI: 10.3389/frobt.2022.849516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are a rubbery network of polymers with ordered liquid crystal mesogens. The combination of rubber elasticity and the anisotropic liquid crystalline order gives exceptional mechanical properties, like soft elasticity, where near-constant stress accompanies large elastic deformation in the material. However, the soft elasticity in LCEs is often bounded by the intrinsic molecular interactions and structures, limiting the range of programmable mechanical properties and functionalities. Here, we demonstrate that the semi-soft elasticity of LCEs can be integrated into the framework of metamaterials to realize markedly programmabilities. Under uniaxial deformation, each state of the building blocks in metamaterials and the molecular composition of the nematic LCEs is associated with a distinctly different stress-strain relation that is fully elastic. Taking advantage of the tunable bending and stretching deformation enabled by the geometry of the building blocks and the semi-soft elasticity of the nematic LCE in the metamaterials, we can engineer the local stretch and stress at an unmet level of their counterpart composed by elastomers. Numerical simulations and analytical models are developed to relate the metamaterial geometries and the LCE soft elasticity to the mechanical responses. In addition, an elastic region with near-zero stiffness up to a stretch of 1.4 can be designed by connecting the compliant responses due to bending deformation and the soft elasticity in the LCE. We expect that the specialized mechanical tunability enabled by the LCE metamaterials can facilitate the development of advanced forms of mechanical metamaterials and impact the design of robotic systems.
Collapse
|
22
|
Zadeh MN, Garrad M, Romero C, Conn A, Scarpa F, Rossiter J. RoboHeart: A Bi-Directional Zipping Actuator. IEEE Robot Autom Lett 2022. [DOI: 10.1109/lra.2022.3193249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Martin Garrad
- Department of Engineering Mathematics, University of Bristol, U.K
| | - Christian Romero
- Department of Engineering Mathematics, University of Bristol, U.K
| | - Andrew Conn
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bristol, U.K
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Abramson CI, Levin M. Behaviorist approaches to investigating memory and learning: A primer for synthetic biology and bioengineering. Commun Integr Biol 2021; 14:230-247. [PMID: 34925687 PMCID: PMC8677006 DOI: 10.1080/19420889.2021.2005863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The fields of developmental biology, biomedicine, and artificial life are being revolutionized by advances in synthetic morphology. The next phase of synthetic biology and bioengineering is resulting in the construction of novel organisms (biobots), which exhibit not only morphogenesis and physiology but functional behavior. It is now essential to begin to characterize the behavioral capacity of novel living constructs in terms of their ability to make decisions, form memories, learn from experience, and anticipate future stimuli. These synthetic organisms are highly diverse, and often do not resemble familiar model systems used in behavioral science. Thus, they represent an important context in which to begin to unify and standardize vocabulary and techniques across developmental biology, behavioral ecology, and neuroscience. To facilitate the study of behavior in novel living systems, we present a primer on techniques from the behaviorist tradition that can be used to probe the functions of any organism – natural, chimeric, or synthetic – regardless of the details of their construction or origin. These techniques provide a rich toolkit for advancing the fields of synthetic bioengineering, evolutionary developmental biology, basal cognition, exobiology, and robotics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charles I Abramson
- Department of Psychology, Laboratory of Comparative Psychology and Behavioral Biology at Oklahoma State University, United States of America
| | - Michael Levin
- Department of Biology, Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Lower-Limb Exosuits for Rehabilitation or Assistance of Human Movement: A Systematic Review. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/app11188743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Background: The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the technological state-of-the-art of exosuits and the clinical results obtained when applied to users with mobility impairment. Methods: Searches are carried out in the COCHRANE, PubMed, IEEE Xplore and MEDLINE databases. Titles, abstracts and full texts are screened for inclusion criteria. Technological and clinical data are extracted. The quality of the studies is evaluated via a study quality assessment tool. Results: 19 studies are identified as relevant. Active (47%) and passive exosuits (53%) are used. Most are used untethered (84%), accommodating the demand of mobility. No study reports power consumption, which is important for dimensioning power systems. Fields of applications are post-stroke (79%), osteoarthritis (16%) and post-trauma (5%). Mostly the ankle joint is addressed (57%), while less studies address multiple joints (21%). The outcomes of clinical evaluations of lower-limb exosuits with patients suffering from mobility impairments are positive in the correction of gait pattern and reducing metabolic energy consumption during hemiparetic walking. Conclusions: Lower-limb exosuits for clinical applications are still facing technological challenges. Fields of application are limited to stroke, osteoarthritis and trauma. While clinical outcomes are overall positive, improvements in the study protocols are suggested.
Collapse
|
25
|
Lavrentovich OD. Design of nematic liquid crystals to control microscale dynamics. LIQUID CRYSTALS REVIEWS 2021; 8:59-129. [PMID: 34956738 PMCID: PMC8698256 DOI: 10.1080/21680396.2021.1919576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The dynamics of small particles, both living such as swimming bacteria and inanimate, such as colloidal spheres, has fascinated scientists for centuries. If one could learn how to control and streamline their chaotic motion, that would open technological opportunities in the transformation of stored or environmental energy into systematic motion, with applications in micro-robotics, transport of matter, guided morphogenesis. This review presents an approach to command microscale dynamics by replacing an isotropic medium with a liquid crystal. Orientational order and associated properties, such as elasticity, surface anchoring, and bulk anisotropy, enable new dynamic effects, ranging from the appearance and propagation of particle-like solitary waves to self-locomotion of an active droplet. By using photoalignment, the liquid crystal can be patterned into predesigned structures. In the presence of the electric field, these patterns enable the transport of solid and fluid particles through nonlinear electrokinetics rooted in anisotropy of conductivity and permittivity. Director patterns command the dynamics of swimming bacteria, guiding their trajectories, polarity of swimming, and distribution in space. This guidance is of a higher level of complexity than a simple following of the director by rod-like microorganisms. Namely, the director gradients mediate hydrodynamic interactions of bacteria to produce an active force and collective polar modes of swimming. The patterned director could also be engraved in a liquid crystal elastomer. When an elastomer coating is activated by heat or light, these patterns produce a deterministic surface topography. The director gradients define an activation force that shapes the elastomer in a manner similar to the active stresses triggering flows in active nematics. The patterned elastomer substrates could be used to define the orientation of cells in living tissues. The liquid-crystal guidance holds a major promise in achieving the goal of commanding microscale active flows.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oleg D Lavrentovich
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Department of Physics, Materials Science Graduate Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Bongard J, Levin M. Living Things Are Not (20th Century) Machines: Updating Mechanism Metaphors in Light of the Modern Science of Machine Behavior. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.650726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the most useful metaphors for driving scientific and engineering progress has been that of the “machine.” Much controversy exists about the applicability of this concept in the life sciences. Advances in molecular biology have revealed numerous design principles that can be harnessed to understand cells from an engineering perspective, and build novel devices to rationally exploit the laws of chemistry, physics, and computation. At the same time, organicists point to the many unique features of life, especially at larger scales of organization, which have resisted decomposition analysis and artificial implementation. Here, we argue that much of this debate has focused on inessential aspects of machines – classical properties which have been surpassed by advances in modern Machine Behavior and no longer apply. This emerging multidisciplinary field, at the interface of artificial life, machine learning, and synthetic bioengineering, is highlighting the inadequacy of existing definitions. Key terms such as machine, robot, program, software, evolved, designed, etc., need to be revised in light of technological and theoretical advances that have moved past the dated philosophical conceptions that have limited our understanding of both evolved and designed systems. Moving beyond contingent aspects of historical and current machines will enable conceptual tools that embrace inevitable advances in synthetic and hybrid bioengineering and computer science, toward a framework that identifies essential distinctions between fundamental concepts of devices and living agents. Progress in both theory and practical applications requires the establishment of a novel conception of “machines as they could be,” based on the profound lessons of biology at all scales. We sketch a perspective that acknowledges the remarkable, unique aspects of life to help re-define key terms, and identify deep, essential features of concepts for a future in which sharp boundaries between evolved and designed systems will not exist.
Collapse
|
27
|
Digital logic gates in soft, conductive mechanical metamaterials. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1633. [PMID: 33712597 PMCID: PMC7954845 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21920-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Integrated circuits utilize networked logic gates to compute Boolean logic operations that are the foundation of modern computation and electronics. With the emergence of flexible electronic materials and devices, an opportunity exists to formulate digital logic from compliant, conductive materials. Here, we introduce a general method of leveraging cellular, mechanical metamaterials composed of conductive polymers to realize all digital logic gates and gate assemblies. We establish a method for applying conductive polymer networks to metamaterial constituents and correlate mechanical buckling modes with network connectivity. With this foundation, each of the conventional logic gates is realized in an equivalent mechanical metamaterial, leading to soft, conductive matter that thinks about applied mechanical stress. These findings may advance the growing fields of soft robotics and smart mechanical matter, and may be leveraged across length scales and physics. A method to cultivate decision-making in soft materials would provide a key step to autonomous engineered matter. Here, the authors report a class of conductive polymer-based mechanical metamaterials that process information by digital logic and permit logic gate assembly.
Collapse
|