Arc-heating actuated active-morphing insect robots

Jingyu Che, Xiangyu Yang, Jinzhe Peng, Jingyi Li, Zhiwei Liu () and Mingjing Qi ()
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Jingyu Che: Beihang University
Xiangyu Yang: Beihang University
Jinzhe Peng: Beihang University
Jingyi Li: Beihang University
Zhiwei Liu: Beihang University
Mingjing Qi: Beihang University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract In nature, insects can swiftly move and actively morph to adapt to complex and varied conditions. However, replicating this capability in insect-scale robots requires sophisticated structural designs, which are difficult to achieve at such a small scale without fundamental hardware innovations. This work proposes a coupling mechanism between actuation and morphing by combining an arc-heating actuator and shape memory alloy wires, presenting a fast insect-scale robot (83.4 body lengths per second) capable of active morphing and self-recovery. The arc-heating actuator is designed to provide the kinetic energy and the thermal energy essential for deforming the wires. The robot can compress its body thickness to traverse through a gap of 70% its height smoothly within 2.2 seconds and is amphibious. Furthermore, after enduring pressure 5 million times its weight, the robot is flattened, but fully recovers its original size and performance in just a few seconds.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58258-8

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