Skin-inspired, sensory robots for electronic implants

Drawing inspiration from cohesive integration of skeletal muscles and sensory skins in vertebrate animals, we present a design strategy of soft robots, primarily consisting of an electronic skin (e-skin) and an artificial muscle. These robots integrate multifunctional sensing and on-demand actuation into a biocompatible platform using an in-situ solution-based method. They feature biomimetic designs that enable adaptive motions and stress-free contact with tissues, supported by a battery-free wireless module for untethered operation. Demonstrations range from a robotic cuff for detecting blood pressure, to a robotic gripper for tracking bladder volume, an ingestible robot for pH sensing and on-site drug delivery, and a robotic patch for quantifying cardiac function and delivering electrotherapy, highlighting the application versatilities and potentials of the bio-inspired soft robots. Our designs establish a universal strategy with a broad range of sensing and responsive materials, to form integrated soft robots for medical technology and beyond.

Lin Zhang, Sicheng Xing, Haifeng Yin, Hannah Weisbecker, Hiep Thanh Tran, Ziheng Guo, Tianhong Han, Yihang Wang, Yihan Liu, Yizhang Wu, Wanrong Xie, Chuqi Huang, Wei Luo, Michael Demaesschalck, Collin McKinney, Samuel Hankley, Amber Huang, Brynn Brusseau, Jett Messenger, Yici Zou, Wubin Bai