Optically driven color-changing soft robot and biomimetic insect

Abstract

The application provides a light-driven color-changing soft robot and a bionic insect. The robot is composed of a tungsten-doped vanadium dioxide layer, an oxide (fluoride) layer, an MXene layer and a paraffin layer. Through the photothermal effect, the soft robot is warmed up, and color change and driving are realized. Under the irradiation of excitation light, when the temperature of the soft robot exceeds the phase transition temperature of vanadium dioxide, the refractive index of the tungsten-doped vanadium dioxide film changes, thereby causing the color (infrared temperature) of the color-changing layer to change. At this time, due to the temperature rise of the soft robot, the paraffin layer produces thermal expansion, and the MXene layer does not produce thermal expansion, thereby causing the robot to deform. The robot described in the application can change its color (infrared temperature) according to the environment, work in a disguised state, and has broad application prospects in the military field.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of robotics, specifically to a light-driven color-changing soft robot and a biomimetic insect. Background Technology

[0002] An actuator is a device that converts external energy (such as electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, or thermal energy) into mechanical motion or force. It is widely used in robotics to perform physical actions such as pushing, rotating, or adjusting position. In nature, organisms often use camouflage techniques to avoid being caught by predators. For example, the dead leaf butterfly's wings resemble withered leaves, allowing it to escape bird predation. Chameleons can actively adjust their body color, adapting their skin structure to their environment to camouflage themselves. In modern warfare, robots are gradually replacing humans in dangerous and rescue missions. Therefore, developing next-generation robots with active camouflage capabilities to improve their survivability is of great significance. Creating camouflage technologies compatible with visible and infrared wavelengths and integrating them with robotics is crucial.

[0003] Currently, there are no robots that can simultaneously generate color (infrared temperature) changes. Therefore, this application provides a light-driven color-changing soft robot to simultaneously generate motion and color (infrared temperature) changes under light-driven conditions, thereby expanding the application of robots in information encryption, environmental monitoring, and other fields. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the problems existing in the background art, this application provides a light-driven color-changing soft robot and a biomimetic insect.

[0005] In a first aspect, a light-driven color-changing soft robot is provided, comprising, from bottom to top, a paraffin layer, an MXene layer, and a tungsten-doped vanadium oxide thin film layer; wherein: the MXene layer and the paraffin layer are connected and composite to form an actuator; the tungsten-doped vanadium oxide thin film layer is used to generate thermochromic changes caused by a phase transition when the temperature of the MXene surface increases. By combining three different materials together, both color and shape can change simultaneously when subjected to external light and heat stimulation.

[0006] In some implementations of the first aspect, a dielectric layer is also provided between the tungsten-doped vanadium oxide thin film layer and the MXene layer. The dielectric layer includes calcium fluoride material or silicon dioxide material.

[0007] In some implementations of the first aspect, the thickness of the tungsten-doped vanadium oxide thin film layer is any one of the following: 40, 60, 80, 100 or 120 nm.

[0008] In some implementations of the first aspect, when the dielectric layer material is silicon dioxide, the thickness of the dielectric layer material is any one of the following: 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 or 250 nm; when the dielectric layer material is calcium fluoride, the thickness is 1.2 μm.

[0009] By setting up a dielectric layer and combining tungsten-doped vanadium oxide thin films of different thicknesses with dielectric layers of different thicknesses, a wider variety of colors can be obtained before and after the phase transition of the tungsten-doped vanadium oxide thin film, including: blue (400-460nm), purple (380-450nm), purplish-gray (320-400nm), yellow (570-600nm), green (492-577nm), or gold (570-600nm), etc.; the rich variety of colors allows color-changing software robots to hide against different colored backgrounds.

[0010] In some implementations of the first aspect, when the dielectric layer is calcium fluoride, the tungsten-doped vanadium oxide thin film layer and the dielectric layer are also used to generate an infrared temperature similar to the surrounding environment at an ambient temperature of 40-45℃. Having an infrared temperature similar to the surrounding environment makes the color-changing soft robot appear similar to the surrounding environment in an infrared camera, making it difficult to distinguish.

[0011] In some implementations of the first aspect, the shape of the MXene layer is obtained by laser cutting, and the shapes of the paraffin layer and the tungsten-doped vanadium oxide thin film layer correspond to the MXene layer; wherein the femtosecond laser power is 8mW, the processing rate is 8000μm / s, and the spot size is 30μm.

[0012] In some implementations of the first aspect, the MXene layer and the paraffin layer are connected and composite to form an actuator, including: the MXene layer is used to convert light energy into heat energy under light drive without producing thermal deformation; the paraffin layer is used to produce thermal deformation after the MXene layer converts light energy into heat energy; so that the MXene layer and the paraffin layer produce directional movement toward the MXene layer or the paraffin layer to form the actuator. If the actuator is shaped like a cantilever beam, when repeatedly stimulated by external excitation light, the cantilever beam-shaped actuator can crawl a certain distance and change color during the crawling process.

[0013] In some implementations of the first aspect, the actuator has a power density of 110 mW / cm². 2 The maximum value generated under light-driven conditions is 84m. -1 The curvature change. The combined tungsten-doped vanadium oxide thin film layer and dielectric layer have a negligible effect on the actuator curvature change.

[0014] In conjunction with some implementations of the first aspect, a light-driven color-changing soft robot is used to generate a color change from purplish-gray to blue under light-driven conditions. Combining tungsten-doped vanadium oxide thin films of varying thicknesses with dielectric layers of varying thicknesses can achieve different color changes, including: gold to yellow, yellow to blue, and green to purplish-brown, etc.; when the external excitation light power density is 110 mW / cm². 2 At that time, the color change time is only 2 seconds.

[0015] Secondly, a biomimetic insect is provided, comprising a light-driven color-changing soft robot as described in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof; the light-driven color-changing soft robot is shaped like a butterfly. When subjected to a light power density of 110 mW / cm², 2 When stimulated by external light, the color of the bionic insect changes synchronously with the shape of its wings. The movement of its wings is similar to the flapping of a butterfly's wings, and the color of the bionic insect gradually becomes consistent with the environment. One flap of the wings up and down constitutes one cycle, and the bionic insect can complete one cycle of change within 6 seconds.

[0016] Thirdly, a biomimetic insect is provided, comprising a light-driven color-changing soft robot as described in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof; the light-driven color-changing soft robot is shaped like a butterfly. When subjected to a light power density of 110 mW / cm²... 2 When stimulated by external light, the infrared temperature of the bionic insect increases, and at the same time, the shape of the butterfly wings changes. The change in wing shape is similar to the flapping of butterfly wings. The infrared temperature of the bionic insect is within the range of 40-45℃, and the difference between the infrared temperature of the bionic insect and the infrared temperature of the environment is less than or equal to 0.2℃. At this time, the color of the bionic insect under the infrared camera is basically the same as the color of the surrounding environment. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This application provides a light-driven color-changing soft robot.

[0018] Figure 2 This application provides a cantilever beam-shaped, light-driven, color-changing soft robot.

[0019] Figure 3 This is a biomimetic insect provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0020] Figure 4 This is a biomimetic insect provided in the embodiments of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0021] An actuator is a device that converts external energy (such as electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, or thermal energy) into mechanical motion or force. It is widely used in robotics to perform physical actions such as pushing, rotating, or adjusting position. In nature, organisms often use camouflage techniques to avoid being caught by predators. For example, the dead leaf butterfly's wings resemble withered leaves, allowing it to escape bird predation. Chameleons can actively adjust their body color, adapting their skin structure to their environment to camouflage themselves. In modern warfare, robots are gradually replacing humans in dangerous and rescue missions. Therefore, developing next-generation robots with active camouflage capabilities to improve their survivability is of great significance. Creating camouflage technologies compatible with visible and infrared wavelengths and integrating them with robotics is crucial.

[0022] Currently, there are no robots that can simultaneously generate color (infrared temperature) changes. Therefore, this application provides a light-driven color-changing soft robot to simultaneously generate motion and color (infrared temperature) changes under light-driven conditions, thereby expanding the application of robots in information encryption, environmental monitoring, and other fields.

[0023] To address the problems existing in the background art, this application provides a light-driven color-changing soft robot and a biomimetic insect.

[0024] Figure 1 This application provides an embodiment of a light-driven color-changing soft robot. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the robot includes a tungsten-doped vanadium oxide thin film layer 101, an MXene layer 103, and a paraffin layer 104; wherein: the MXene layer 103 and the paraffin layer 104 are connected and composite to form an actuator; the tungsten-doped vanadium oxide thin film layer 101 is used to generate thermochromic changes caused by a phase transition when the temperature of the surface of the MXene layer 103 increases. By compositing three different materials together, both color and shape can change simultaneously when subjected to external light and heat stimulation.

[0025] A dielectric layer 102 is disposed between a tungsten-doped vanadium oxide thin film layer 101 and an MXene layer 103. The dielectric layer 102 comprises calcium fluoride material or silicon dioxide material.

[0026] The thickness of the tungsten-doped vanadium oxide thin film 101 is any one of the following: 40, 60, 80, 100 or 120 nm.

[0027] When the material of the dielectric layer 102 is silicon dioxide, the thickness of the dielectric layer 102 material is any one of the following: 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 or 250 nm; when the material of the dielectric layer 102 is calcium fluoride, the thickness is 1.2 μm.

[0028] By setting a dielectric layer 102 and combining tungsten-doped vanadium oxide thin film layers 101 of different thicknesses with dielectric layers 102 of different thicknesses, a wider variety of colors can be obtained before and after the phase transition of the tungsten-doped vanadium oxide thin film layer 101; including: blue (400-460nm), purple (380-450nm), purplish-gray (320-400nm), yellow (570-600nm), green (492-577nm), or gold (570-600nm), etc.; the wide variety of colors allows the color-changing soft robot to hide against different colored backgrounds.

[0029] When the dielectric layer 102 is calcium fluoride, the tungsten-doped vanadium oxide thin film layer 101 and the dielectric layer 102 are also used to generate an infrared temperature similar to the surrounding environment when the ambient temperature is 40-45℃; having an infrared temperature similar to the surrounding environment makes the color-changing soft robot appear similar to the color of the surrounding environment in the infrared camera, making it difficult to distinguish.

[0030] The shape of the MXene layer 103 is obtained by laser cutting, and the shapes of the paraffin layer 104 and the tungsten-doped vanadium oxide thin film layer 101 correspond to the MXene layer 103; wherein the femtosecond laser power is 8mW, the processing rate is 8000μm / s, and the spot size is 30μm.

[0031] An actuator is formed by the adjoining and composite formation of an MXene layer 103 and a paraffin layer 104, comprising: an MXene layer 103 for converting light energy into heat energy under light drive without generating thermal deformation; and a paraffin layer 104 for generating thermal deformation after the MXene layer 103 converts light energy into heat energy; thereby causing the MXene layer 103 and the paraffin layer 104 to generate directional movement toward the MXene layer 103 or the paraffin layer 104 to form an actuator.

[0032] Figure 2 This application provides a cantilever beam-shaped light-driven color-changing soft robot. When repeatedly stimulated by external light, the cantilever beam-shaped actuator can crawl a certain distance and change color during the crawling process.

[0033] The actuator is used to generate 84m under light drive. -1 The curvature change. The combined tungsten-doped vanadium oxide thin film layer and dielectric layer have a negligible effect on the actuator curvature change.

[0034] A light-driven color-changing soft robot is used to generate color changes from purplish-gray to blue under light. Combining tungsten-doped vanadium oxide thin films of varying thicknesses with dielectric layers of varying thicknesses can achieve different color changes, including: gold to yellow, yellow to blue, and green to purplish-brown, etc.; when the external excitation light power density is 110 mW / cm².2 At that time, the color switching time is only 2 seconds.

[0035] Figure 3 A biomimetic insect is provided, wherein a light-driven color-changing soft robot is shaped like a butterfly. It operates when exposed to a light power density of 110 mW / cm². 2 When stimulated by external light, the color and shape of the bionic insect change synchronously, similar to the flapping of butterfly wings. The color of the bionic insect gradually becomes consistent with the environment. One flap of the wings up and down constitutes one cycle, and the bionic insect can complete one cycle of change within 6 seconds.

[0036] Figure 4 This application provides an embodiment of a biomimetic insect, wherein the light-driven color-changing soft robot is shaped like a butterfly. When exposed to light with a power density of 110 mW / cm²... 2 When stimulated by external light, the infrared temperature of the bionic insect increases, and at the same time, the shape of the butterfly wings changes. The change in wing shape is similar to the flapping of butterfly wings. The infrared temperature of the bionic insect is within the range of 40-45℃, and the difference between the infrared temperature of the bionic insect and the infrared temperature of the environment is less than or equal to 0.2℃. At this time, the color of the bionic insect under the infrared camera is basically the same as the color of the surrounding environment.

[0037] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of this application are as follows:

[0038] 1. The robot described in this application is a flexible camouflage robot. It integrates camouflage, transformation, and movement functions, and can drag objects while camouflaging. It has broad application prospects in the fields of soft robotics and military camouflage.

[0039] 2. The robot of this application achieves wireless power for camouflage, transformation and movement through external light, without the need for external wiring.

[0040] 3. The robot in this application is primarily made of inorganic materials, which have an extremely long service life. Its thickness has been significantly reduced, resulting in high responsiveness and a fast response speed.

[0041] 4. The robot described in this application can simulate a variety of biological movement patterns based on its own shape, and has a high degree of environmental adaptability.

[0042] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

Claims

1. A light-driven color-changing soft robot, characterized in that, Including paraffin layers arranged from bottom to top, MXene layer and tungsten-doped vanadium oxide thin film layer, wherein: The MXene layer and the paraffin layer are connected and composite to form an actuator; The tungsten-doped vanadium oxide thin film layer is used to generate thermochromism caused by phase transition when the temperature on the surface of the MXene layer increases; A dielectric layer is further disposed between the tungsten-doped vanadium oxide thin film layer and the MXene layer, the dielectric layer comprising calcium fluoride material or silicon dioxide material; When the dielectric layer is calcium fluoride, the tungsten-doped vanadium oxide thin film layer and the dielectric layer are also used to adjust the infrared radiation temperature of the light-driven color-changing soft robot when the ambient temperature is 40-45 ℃, so that the infrared radiation temperature difference between the light-driven color-changing soft robot and the surrounding environment is less than or equal to 0.2 ℃. The MXene layer and the paraffin layer are connected and composite to form an actuator, comprising: The MXene layer is used to convert light energy into heat energy under light-driven conditions without causing thermal deformation. The paraffin layer is used to generate thermal deformation after the light energy is converted into heat energy in the MXene layer; The actuator is formed by causing the MXene layer and the paraffin layer to move in a directional manner toward the MXene layer or the paraffin layer.

2. The light-driven color-changing soft robot according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thickness of the tungsten-doped vanadium oxide thin film layer is any one of the following: 40, 60, 80, 100 or 120 nm.

3. The light-driven color-changing soft robot according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the dielectric layer is made of silicon dioxide, the thickness of the dielectric layer material is any one of the following: 0, 50, ... 100, 150, 200, or 250 nm; or When the dielectric layer material is calcium fluoride, the thickness is 1.2 μm.

4. The light-driven color-changing soft robot according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The The MXene layer is obtained by laser cutting, and the shapes of the paraffin layer and the tungsten-doped vanadium oxide thin film layer are similar to those of the MXene layer. The layer corresponding to MXene.

5. The light-driven color-changing soft robot according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The actuator is used to generate 84 m under optical drive. -1 The curvature change.

6. The light-driven color-changing soft robot according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The optical drive Dynamic color-changing soft robots are used to generate color changes from gray to blue under light-driven conditions.

7. A biomimetic insect, characterized in that, Includes the light-driven color-changing soft robot as described in any one of claims 1-6, wherein the shape of the light-driven color-changing soft robot is that of a butterfly.

Images