Embodied and Distributed Energy Circulation, Powering and Computing Network for Soft Robots

Living system has embodied nervous, muscular, and circulatory networks that can react and adapt to external stimuli and environmental changes. Through the circulatory system, energy is transported throughout the body and supplied to the musical system. The nervous system responds to external stimuli by controlling the musical system. By combining various systems, all living organisms realize automatic functions that control the body in response to feedback.<br/>Modern robots lack the multifunctional interconnected system found in living organisms and are consequently unable to reproduce their efficiency and autonomy.<br/>Here, we present a multi-functionalized energetic vascular system, which can be used as energy storage and actuation system by coupling redox flow batteries (RFBs) and elastomeric solenoid pumps (ESPs). RFB itself can act as an energy storage device and actuator simultaneously by integrating it into the fluidic elastomer actuator (FEA). The ESP was incorporated into the RFB to circulate the electrolyte and generate the hydraulic force required to operate the actuator. The ESP is comprised of a permanent magnet coated with a hydrogel layer (sealing layer). The magnet is then inserted into a stretchable tube. The tube is externally coiled with thin liquid metal wire in successive sections to produce a train of solenoids along the length of the tube. Upon activation, the magnets will be pulled continuously along the length of the tube to generate hydraulic force. In addition, the ionic conductivity imparted by the ions of the electrolyte can be used as a conductive substrate for sensing external strain and transmitting data. Therefore, the RFB network can serve as a network responsible for sensing and communicating like a nervous system.<br/>The RFB-ESP network can be utilized to implement a multifunctional network (vascular, muscular, and nervous) of a living organism and enhance the efficiency and autonomy of the robot.