February 22, 2024

Responsive materials possess the inherent ability to autonomously sense and react to various external stimuli, demonstrating a degree of physical intelligence. Among the diverse range of responsive materials, liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs) stand out due to their remarkable characteristics of reversible, stimulus-responsive shape changes and their significant potential in the field of soft robotics. Professor Feng Wei, Assistant Professor He Qiguang, and Professor Zhang Li co-authored a comprehensive review published in the journal Advanced Materialstitled "Embedded Physical Intelligence in Liquid Crystalline Polymer Actuators and Robots" (DOI: 10.1002/adma.202312313), which details the latest advancements in developing actuators and robots with physical intelligence using LCPs. The review is structured around stimulus conditions, categorizing systems according to fundamental control and stimulus logic. It discusses three main categories: systems responding to changing stimuli, systems driven by constant stimuli, and systems capable of learning and logical control. Furthermore, the article outlines the challenges that need to be addressed in this dynamic field moving forward.