Researchers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have developed a flexible robotic sheet that is capable of grasping objects and moving across surfaces.
This technology could be used in the making of shape-changing robots for applications including exploring environments or manipulating objects.
Source: Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-61838-3
The team engineered a robotic folding sheet made with densely distributed heat-sensitive electrical elements that change shape when exposed to heat.
Using a 40 cm2 sheet composed of 308 resistors that serve as heaters and sensors, the dual functionality reportedly allowed for precise control of movement, where the system frequently adjusts according to feedback from its own sensors.
During trials, the robotic sheet crawled across a surface as well as grasped and lifted various objects, including, for example, a petri dish, plastic packaging and a wooden stick.
Additionally, the team demonstrated that they could achieve folding angles between -87° to 109° as well as consistent performance across a range of temperatures (30° C and 170° C). Likewise, the system also proved capable of responding quickly and accurately to changes in the environment that require increased stability and efficiency.
An article detailing the technology, “Field-programmable robotic folding sheet,” appears in the journal Nature Communications.
For more on the robotic sheet, watch the accompanying video that appears courtesy of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.
