We demonstrate the use of a swimming microrobot with a serrated tail in the propulsion region to enhance reaction interfaces. A 3D printed tail with multiple catalytic channels and nanointerfaces could reinforce the microrobot, allowing it to reach swimming speeds of ∼1 mm s⁻¹ and enabling it to transport objects with a weight 6500 times that of itself. This research represents a new concept in swimming microrobot design and is expected to benefit a wide range of engineering fields.

Flexible tactile sensors have garnered considerable attention in diverse fields. Among them, the sensors integrated with multifunctional tactile sensing features can simultaneously detect various stimuli, such as pressure and temperature, and are thus suitable for practical applications. However, integrating multiple sensor modalities within a solitary pixel invariably encounters various limitations encompassing interplay among disparate sensors, intricate structural design demands, and the complexities and high costs associated with fabrication. Herein, we harness a visual sensing mechanism to synergize with electric sensors, thereby realizing a tactile sensor reliant on thermochromic microstructures for simultaneous pressure and temperature sensing. The thermal distribution could be easily displayed by the color change of the sensor, avoiding inference between the sensing units, which is beneficial for low-cost mass fabrication. A capacitor sensor with dual-scale oblique pyramid microstructures in its dielectric layer is used for the pressure sensing function, resulting in improved sensitivity and an extended measurement range. This innovative tactile sensor design offers insights into tactile sensing mechanisms, paving the way for cost-effective, high-performance, and multimodal sensor fabrication.

In the robot-aided biomedical field, although the cell pierce force may be decreased by sharpening injection needle and robotic control, the physical damage to the cell remains a big issue for low-invasive cell injection. This article proposes a 7-DoFs rotation-thrust (R-T) microrobotic control instead of the conventional straightforward thrust for smaller penetrated cell deformation and higher force stability, thus decreasing the physical damage to the cell. Considering fully, a beneficial resultant of shear as well as axial force based on a point-load cell model, a dynamic centering alignment strategy is designed for overcoming the eccentric fluctuation of the rotational conical micropipette. Furthermore, integrating with a shear force, a trapezoid-speed control based on impedance force compensation is developed to ensure the R-T force stability. The R-T pierce control is compared with the other two micromanipulations (straightforward and rotation) of the zebrafish embryos, respectively, under different linear velocities, rotation velocities, and cell maturities. The results validate that the proposed control is capable of diminishing the embryos’ pierce deformation and force $\sim$30% and improving the force stability $\sim$70%. The pierced cell’s activity is further proved by the fluorescent dye injection. This research provides a feasible way for low-invasive cell injection techniques.

In this work, a light actuated inchworm-inspired soft robot capable of directional locomotion has been proposed, developed, and characterized. The robot is designed and divided into three parts according to the functions during locomotion, which are body, front leg, and back leg. The body of inchworm should provide contraction and stretching force. Thus, bilayer reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and graphene oxide (GO)-polydopamine (PDA) soft film is fabricated acting as robot body since it could implant light induced deformation rapidly when stimulated. When applying near infrared laser on it, bending would generate and unbending would take place after withdrawing laser, which imitates the longitudinal body muscle controlling contraction and stretching behavior of the inchworm during locomotion. Besides, robot legs are designed owning different height and contact angle to ground. Due to such structure, directional movement could be realized. Then, by coordinating the body and two legs, the robot achieves a biomimetic inchworm gait. Experiments were carried out to characterize the robot body's light sensitivity as well as the robot's locomotive performance. As the experiment results showed, robot body bends at a speed of 17°/s when laser applies on it and the whole robot could realize forward locomotion mimicking inchworm by applying laser light periodically. The step length during one locomotion cycle could achieve 0.6mm which is 1/10 of body length.

Aerogels, known for their lightweight, porous structure and exceptional thermal insulation properties, have attracted increasing attention across research and engineering domains. Recent advancements in material composition and structural design have led to the development of flexible aerogels, broadening their applications across diverse fields. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the fabrication methods for flexible thermal insulation aerogels, including freeze-drying, phase separation, 3D printing, and fiber formation. Their multifunctional applications in aerospace, construction, and battery industry are also highlighted. Recent progress has demonstrated their applicability as lightweight insulation for spacecraft, energy-efficient building materials, and thermal management layers in advanced batteries, underscoring their versatility in both traditional and emerging technologies. Finally, the challenges and future development for flexible thermal insulation aerogels are discussed, offering valuable insights for advancing this promising material.