KAIST Develops Flytrap-Inspired Material That Senses and Grasps Objects
KAIST researchers have developed 'Ionograsper,' a soft robotic material inspired by the Venus flytrap that can sense and grasp objects. The material uses ionic movement to detect electric fields and light-sensitive polymers to trigger physical movement.
Why it matters
This innovation simplifies soft robotics by integrating sensing and actuation into a single material, reducing the need for complex wiring and components.
A Venus flytrap closes its leaves to trap prey when it senses a stimulus. Taking inspiration from this plant, KAIST researchers have combined the roles of a skin that senses approaching objects and a muscle that grasps them in a single soft material. When an electrically charged object comes near, ions inside the material move and produce an electrical signal. When ultraviolet (UV) light is applied, the material bends and grasps the object. Because it holds its deformed shape for more than 10 minutes after the light is turned off, the material shows potential for soft robotic hands that require fewer components and less wiring.
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