3D Laser Printing Based Soft Lattice Mechanical Metamaterial Microrobots

Soft microrobots possess deformability and adaptability, offering significant advantages in navigating complex terrains[1]. Hydrogel-based soft microrobots, in particular, can mimic life-like movements in response to various external stimuli by incorporating nanomaterials[2]. However, while nanomaterials expand the available energy sources for hydrogel microrobots, they introduce inherent trade-offs, including restricted deformation amplitude, slower response speed. These limitations hinder the ability of hydrogel microrobots to achieve rapid, large-scale shape transformations essential for agile locomotion and practical applications. Therefore, a critical challenge remains: how to enhance both the deformation amplitude and response speed of hydrogel-based soft microrobots without compromising their structural integrity and controllability. In this study, we propose a fabrication method for hydrogel-based soft microrobots that utilizes lattice mechanical metamaterials to enhance both deformation amplitude and response speed.