Autonomously Moving and Assembling Soft Matter Systems

This lecture explores the concept of autonomously moving and assembling soft matter systems, focusing on the work presented by Al Crosby, a Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The lecture covers topics such as hierarchical adhesion, friction control, growth, and assembly of soft materials. It delves into the development of hydrogel actuators and robots inspired by natural systems, showcasing various responsive hydrogel designs. The presentation also discusses the principles of latch-mediated spring actuation, offering significant advantages in power delivery and size efficiency. Additionally, it examines the performance of self-spinning filament bundles and the potential applications of mesoscale polymers in material science.