IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v16y2025i1d10.1038_s41467-025-62182-2.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Muscle-inspired elasto-electromagnetic mechanism in autonomous insect robots

Author

Listed:
  • Changyu Xu

    (Westlake University
    Westlake Institute for Advanced Study)

  • Yajun Cao

    (Westlake University
    Westlake Institute for Advanced Study)

  • Jingyang Zhao

    (Westlake University)

  • Yujia Cao

    (Westlake University)

  • Yi Huang

    (Westlake Interactive Robot Technology (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd)

  • Yangyi Lin

    (Westlake University)

  • Dong Wang

    (Sichuan University)

  • Zhuang Zhang

    (Westlake University
    Westlake Institute for Advanced Study)

  • Hanqing Jiang

    (Westlake University
    Westlake Institute for Advanced Study
    Westlake University)

Abstract

In nature, the dynamic contraction and relaxation of muscle in animals provide the essential force and deformation necessary for diverse locomotion, enabling them to navigate and overcome environmental challenges. However, most autonomous robotic systems still rely on conventional rigid motors, lacking the adaptability and resilience of muscle-like actuators. Existing artificial muscles, while promising for soft actuation, often require demanding operational conditions that hinder their use in onboard-powered small autonomous systems. In this work, we present the Elasto-Electromagnetic mechanism, an electromagnetic actuation strategy tailored for soft robotics. By structuring simple elastomeric materials, this mechanism mimics key features of biological muscle contraction and optimizes actuation properties. It achieves significant output force (~210 N/kg), large contraction ratio (up to 60%), rapid response (60 Hz), and low-voltage operation (

Suggested Citation

  • Changyu Xu & Yajun Cao & Jingyang Zhao & Yujia Cao & Yi Huang & Yangyi Lin & Dong Wang & Zhuang Zhang & Hanqing Jiang, 2025. "Muscle-inspired elasto-electromagnetic mechanism in autonomous insect robots," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-62182-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62182-2
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-62182-2
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-025-62182-2?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wenbo Li & Huyue Chen & Zhiran Yi & Fuyi Fang & Xinyu Guo & Zhiyuan Wu & Qiuhua Gao & Lei Shao & Jian Xu & Guang Meng & Wenming Zhang, 2023. "Self-vectoring electromagnetic soft robots with high operational dimensionality," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Da Zhao & Haobo Luo & Yuxiao Tu & Chongxi Meng & Tin Lun Lam, 2024. "Snail-inspired robotic swarms: a hybrid connector drives collective adaptation in unstructured outdoor environments," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Yufeng Chen & Huichan Zhao & Jie Mao & Pakpong Chirarattananon & E. Farrell Helbling & Nak-seung Patrick Hyun & David R. Clarke & Robert J. Wood, 2019. "Controlled flight of a microrobot powered by soft artificial muscles," Nature, Nature, vol. 575(7782), pages 324-329, November.
    4. Robert Baines & Sree Kalyan Patiballa & Joran Booth & Luis Ramirez & Thomas Sipple & Andonny Garcia & Frank Fish & Rebecca Kramer-Bottiglio, 2022. "Multi-environment robotic transitions through adaptive morphogenesis," Nature, Nature, vol. 610(7931), pages 283-289, October.
    5. Daniela Rus & Michael T. Tolley, 2015. "Design, fabrication and control of soft robots," Nature, Nature, vol. 521(7553), pages 467-475, May.
    6. Michael Wehner & Ryan L. Truby & Daniel J. Fitzgerald & Bobak Mosadegh & George M. Whitesides & Jennifer A. Lewis & Robert J. Wood, 2016. "An integrated design and fabrication strategy for entirely soft, autonomous robots," Nature, Nature, vol. 536(7617), pages 451-455, August.
    7. Guoyong Mao & David Schiller & Doris Danninger & Bekele Hailegnaw & Florian Hartmann & Thomas Stockinger & Michael Drack & Nikita Arnold & Martin Kaltenbrunner, 2022. "Ultrafast small-scale soft electromagnetic robots," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    8. Wenqi Hu & Guo Zhan Lum & Massimo Mastrangeli & Metin Sitti, 2018. "Small-scale soft-bodied robot with multimodal locomotion," Nature, Nature, vol. 554(7690), pages 81-85, February.
    9. Zhiwei Liu & Wencheng Zhan & Xinyi Liu & Yangsheng Zhu & Mingjing Qi & Jiaming Leng & Lizhao Wei & Shousheng Han & Xiaoming Wu & Xiaojun Yan, 2024. "A wireless controlled robotic insect with ultrafast untethered running speeds," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Van Hiep Nguyen & Saewoong Oh & Manmatha Mahato & Rassoul Tabassian & Hyunjoon Yoo & Seong-Gyu Lee & Mousumi Garai & Kwang Jin Kim & Il-Kwon Oh, 2024. "Functionally antagonistic polyelectrolyte for electro-ionic soft actuator," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Wenbo Liu & Youning Duo & Jiaqi Liu & Feiyang Yuan & Lei Li & Luchen Li & Gang Wang & Bohan Chen & Siqi Wang & Hui Yang & Yuchen Liu & Yanru Mo & Yun Wang & Bin Fang & Fuchun Sun & Xilun Ding & Chi Zh, 2022. "Touchless interactive teaching of soft robots through flexible bimodal sensory interfaces," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.
    3. Jun Kyu Choe & Junsoo Kim & Hyeonseo Song & Joonbum Bae & Jiyun Kim, 2023. "A soft, self-sensing tensile valve for perceptive soft robots," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Yuxuan Sun & Liu Wang & Yangyang Ni & Huajian Zhang & Xiang Cui & Jiahao Li & Yinbo Zhu & Ji Liu & Shiwu Zhang & Yong Chen & Mujun Li, 2023. "3D printing of thermosets with diverse rheological and functional applicabilities," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Hyunkyu Park & Yongrok Jeong & Woojong Kim & Jungrak Choi & Junseong Ahn & Jun-Ho Jeong & Inkyu Park & Jung Kim, 2025. "Field-programmable robotic folding sheet," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    6. Yuanxi Zhang & Chengfeng Pan & Pengfei Liu & Lelun Peng & Zhouming Liu & Yuanyuan Li & Qingyuan Wang & Tong Wu & Zhe Li & Carmel Majidi & Lelun Jiang, 2023. "Coaxially printed magnetic mechanical electrical hybrid structures with actuation and sensing functionalities," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.
    7. Dong Wang & Baowen Zhao & Xinlei Li & Le Dong & Mengjie Zhang & Jiang Zou & Guoying Gu, 2023. "Dexterous electrical-driven soft robots with reconfigurable chiral-lattice foot design," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    8. Xianghe Meng & Shishi Li & Xingjian Shen & Chenyao Tian & Liyang Mao & Hui Xie, 2024. "Programmable spatial magnetization stereolithographic printing of biomimetic soft machines with thin-walled structures," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    9. Baofu Ding & Pengyuan Zeng & Ziyang Huang & Lixin Dai & Tianshu Lan & Hao Xu & Yikun Pan & Yuting Luo & Qiangmin Yu & Hui-Ming Cheng & Bilu Liu, 2022. "A 2D material–based transparent hydrogel with engineerable interference colours," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
    10. Hayato Saigo & Makoto Naruse & Kazuya Okamura & Hirokazu Hori & Izumi Ojima, 2019. "Analysis of Soft Robotics Based on the Concept of Category of Mobility," Complexity, Hindawi, vol. 2019, pages 1-12, March.
    11. Shibo Zou & Sergio Picella & Jelle Vries & Vera G. Kortman & Aimée Sakes & Johannes T. B. Overvelde, 2024. "A retrofit sensing strategy for soft fluidic robots," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    12. Ningbin Zhang & Jieji Ren & Yueshi Dong & Xinyu Yang & Rong Bian & Jinhao Li & Guoying Gu & Xiangyang Zhu, 2025. "Soft robotic hand with tactile palm-finger coordination," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-14, December.
    13. Nan Li & Yingxin Zhou & Yuqing Li & Chunwei Li & Wentao Xiang & Xueqing Chen & Pan Zhang & Qi Zhang & Jun Su & Bohao Jin & Huize Song & Cai Cheng & Minghui Guo & Lei Wang & Jing Liu, 2024. "Transformable 3D curved high-density liquid metal coils – an integrated unit for general soft actuation, sensing and communication," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    14. Guorui Li & Tuck-Whye Wong & Benjamin Shih & Chunyu Guo & Luwen Wang & Jiaqi Liu & Tao Wang & Xiaobo Liu & Jiayao Yan & Baosheng Wu & Fajun Yu & Yunsai Chen & Yiming Liang & Yaoting Xue & Chengjun Wan, 2023. "Bioinspired soft robots for deep-sea exploration," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    15. Rasool Nasseri & Negin Bouzari & Junting Huang & Hossein Golzar & Sarah Jankhani & Xiaowu (Shirley) Tang & Tizazu H. Mekonnen & Amirreza Aghakhani & Hamed Shahsavan, 2023. "Programmable nanocomposites of cellulose nanocrystals and zwitterionic hydrogels for soft robotics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.
    16. D. Fonseca & P. Neto, 2025. "Electrically-driven phase transition actuators to power soft robot designs," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, December.
    17. Wenbo Li & Huyue Chen & Zhiran Yi & Fuyi Fang & Xinyu Guo & Zhiyuan Wu & Qiuhua Gao & Lei Shao & Jian Xu & Guang Meng & Wenming Zhang, 2023. "Self-vectoring electromagnetic soft robots with high operational dimensionality," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    18. Chen Xin & Zhongguo Ren & Leran Zhang & Liang Yang & Dawei Wang & Yanlei Hu & Jiawen Li & Jiaru Chu & Li Zhang & Dong Wu, 2023. "Light-triggered multi-joint microactuator fabricated by two-in-one femtosecond laser writing," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    19. Zhao, Jun & Zhang, Zhongrui & Sun, Xiaodie & Zuo, Wei & Li, Kai, 2025. "Multi-modal self-sustained motions of a silicone oil paper disc on a surface driven by hot steam," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    20. Wei Tang & Yiding Zhong & Huxiu Xu & Kecheng Qin & Xinyu Guo & Yu Hu & Pingan Zhu & Yang Qu & Dong Yan & Zhaoyang Li & Zhongdong Jiao & Xujun Fan & Huayong Yang & Jun Zou, 2023. "Self-protection soft fluidic robots with rapid large-area self-healing capabilities," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-62182-2. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.