A soft robot has no problem moving with no motor and no gears

Princeton engineers developed a soft robot that moves without motors or external controls by combining 3D-printed liquid crystal elastomers with flexible electronics and origami folding techniques. The robot uses targeted heating through embedded circuit boards to contract specific polymer zones, creating programmed folding motions along hinges designed using origami mathematics. Demonstrated through a crane-shaped robot that flaps its wings when electrically powered, the technology allows precise, repeatable movement without wear or distortion, potentially revolutionizing medical implants and drug delivery systems.