For highly conformable and universal transport devices, bioinspired dry adhesion systems with reversible molecular attractions (e.g., van der Waals forces, capillarity, or suction stress) between the engaged surfaces have recently become favorable for various dry/wet processes in flexible devices and medical applications. In addition, many efforts have been made for switchable attachments of such adhesives by employing costly sophisticated systems such as mechanically deformable chucks, UV-radiating components, or fluidic channels. In this work, we propose a simple electrothermally actuating transport device based on an octopus-inspired microsphere-embedded sucker (OMS). The adhesive with microsphere-embedded suckers offers enhanced adhesion on dry/wet surfaces, in accordance with investigation of the geometric and materials parameters of the novel suction architecture for maximizing adhesion interactions. Inspired by muscle actuation of octopus tentacles, we laminate the electrothermally reactive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxy thiophene):poly(styrenesulfonic acid) (PEDOT:PSS) layer on the backside of the OMS adhesive patch. By controlling inputs of electrical energy, our assembled actuator may actively expand and contract reversibly to induce switchable attachments and detachments. Our bioinspired device can be integrated onto a robotic arm to attach and release against dry/wet flexible thin objects.
Keywords: biomimetics; dry adhesive; flexible devices; microstructures; polymer actuators.