A soft robot has no problem moving with no motor and no gears
Summary
Princeton engineers demonstrate a soft robot that moves without a motor or gears by combining a liquid crystal elastomer polymer with origami-inspired hinges and embedded flexible electronics. Using 3D-printed patterned LC elastomer zones and heat-driven actuation, they achieve repeatable, programmable motion with real-time sensor feedback; the work is published in Advanced Functional Materials and originated from an undergraduate thesis.