Programmable soft elastomeric materials, inspired by mammalian venous valves, alter their properties to perform life-like functions including motion, energy storage, logic operations, and signal filtering.
Background
Materials science and bioengineering aim to replicate the fundamental processes of living organisms through artificial material systems. These systems are designed to perform life-like complex tasks such as responsiveness, motion, and metabolism. They are needed as advanced materials that can operate autonomously in diverse environments, particularly in applications where human intervention is limited or impractical. In medical devices, robotics, and environmental monitoring, materials that can adapt, respond, and perform multiple functions efficiently are in demand. Current approaches to achieve multifunctionality in artificial material systems often involve using multiple distinct components, each for a specific task. This leads to increased complexity, bulkiness, and points of failure in the system. Additionally, needing to rearrange or reconfigure these components to switch between different functions is time-consuming and inefficient. Existing systems also lack the ability to perform complex tasks simultaneously, limiting their effectiveness in real-world applications. These limitations highlight the need for more integrated and programmable material systems that can dynamically adapt and perform various functions without extensive reconfiguration.
Technology description
This UT Austin technology involves a multifunctional soft elastomeric material system that can perform complex functions. It does so by reconfiguring passive bi-stable fluidic diodes inspired by mammalian venous valves and utilizing pneumo-mechanical programmability. The diodes consist of two flexible units that can switch between two stable positions in response to pressure gradients, allowing fluid flow in one direction while restricting it in the other. The system's pneumo-mechanical programmability enables the diodes to function without rearranging the fluidic circuit achieving tasks like motion (via pumping), metabolism (via energy storage and discharge), and responsiveness (via logic operations), not needing to rearrange the fluidic circuit. The diodes' passive bi-stability means they retain their configuration without external energy input, and their mechanical memory allows them to maintain their state. This design strategy facilitates the creation of compact and efficient artificial systems capable of complex behaviors, suitable for applications in autonomous robotics, remote sensing, and bioengineering.
Benefits
- Multiple functions in one – can execute multiple complex functions within a single material system
- In situ programming – can be reconfigured on the fly without any physical alterations to the underlying structure
- Pneumo-mechanical programmability – The use of pneumo-mechanical programming allows the material to adapt its behavior dynamically.
- Diverse functions – functions include pumping, energy storage/discharge, logic operations, and signal filtering/rectification
- Efficient solution – by integrating these capabilities into a single, compact system
- Potential for advanced systems – carries potential for creating advanced artificial systems that can operate autonomously in a variety of settings
Commercial applications
- Soft robotics
- Biomedical devices
- Wearable technology
- Adaptive materials
- Smart prosthetics
