Multi-responsive soft actuator with integrated ultrasensitive sensing performances for human motion detection and soft robots

Despite smart actuators and sensors have attracted tremendous attention and experienced a very rapid growth in the past few years, the integration of sensing elements in actuators and the simultaneous realization of actuating and sensing tasks remain great challenges. To address this issue, we developed a multi-responsive actuation composite film with integrated resistance sensing capabilities. The actuator which was fabricated by combing MXene–graphene oxide (MGO) and commercial biaxially oriented polypropylene tape (BOPP) showed a large bending range, a fast-bending rate, and highly repeatability under humidity, near-infrared light, and applied voltage stimuli. More importantly, the MGO/BOPP film also exhibited a strain-sensitive resistance, and could be used to monitor human motion parameters and its actuation response. The actuation process of an artificial gripper with self-sensing capabilities based on the MGO/BOPP film could be monitored and recorded in real time to achieve simultaneous actuation and sensing; therefore, the present system holds great promise for soft smart robotics, flexible wearable devices , and other integrated multifunctional systems.