With the ability to crawl across surfaces and grasp delicate objects, this advancement paves the way for next-gen robotics in exploration, healthcare, and haptic technology.
In a significant step toward more adaptive autonomous systems, researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), led by Jung Kim, have engineered a flexible robotic sheet that folds, crawls, and grasps objects—all while responding intelligently to its environment. Published in Nature Communications, this innovation holds potential for use in haptics, exploration, and smart healthcare.
Unlike traditional shape-shifting robots that rely on rigid hinges and fixed structures, this robotic sheet uses origami-inspired folding—but with a twist. Embedded with 308 densely packed resistors over a 40 cm² area, each component acts as both a heater and a sensor. This dual role allows the sheet to dynamically fold in real-time, guided by continuous feedback from its own structure. The system achieves folding angles ranging from -87° to 109°, maintaining stable performance across a broad thermal spectrum (30°C to 170°C).
The result is a robot that isn’t just flexible—it’s intelligent. The sheet can crawl across complex surfaces and precisely grasp a range of items, from a petri dish to wooden sticks. The shape-morphing is fully programmable and adaptable, making it suitable for scenarios where conventional robots struggle—like navigating rough terrain or handling delicate objects. Its built-in sensors offer immediate response to environmental changes, boosting both efficiency and stability.
This innovation could transform the way we think about robotics in sectors where flexibility and adaptability are critical. In exploration, the sheet could navigate uneven or hazardous environments. In smart healthcare, it could conform to patient-specific anatomy for improved diagnostics or treatment. And in haptic interfaces, it may enable users to “feel” virtual feedback in real time.
