Futuristic soft robot made of glowing liquid crystal material, bending and twisting in complex shapes.

Shape-Shifting Robots: The Future is Flexible and Fueled by Light

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Beau Callahan in Tech & Innovation September 2025 • 5 min read.

"Explore the revolutionary world of light-fueled soft robotics and how liquid crystal elastomers are changing the game."


Imagine robots that can squeeze into tight spaces, morph their bodies to adapt to any environment, and perform delicate tasks with incredible precision. This isn't science fiction; it's the burgeoning field of soft robotics, and it's being fueled by a surprising ingredient: light. Traditional robots, with their rigid bodies and clunky mechanics, are quickly giving way to more adaptable and versatile machines. At the heart of this revolution are liquid crystal elastomers (LCNs), materials that respond to light by changing shape.

Robotics has come a long way since the term 'robot' was first coined in Karel Capek's play in 1920. For decades, engineers focused on refining the mechanics and electronics of conventional robots. However, the demands of tomorrow require robots that can act autonomously, overcome unexpected obstacles, and interact safely with humans. This is where soft robotics steps in, offering a radical departure from traditional designs.

While the capabilities of rigid robots are limited, soft robots utilize flexible materials that allow for a greater range of motion and adaptability. One of the most promising ways to power these soft robots is through photoactuation – using light to trigger movement and shape change. This approach opens up exciting possibilities for miniaturization, remote control, and unprecedented levels of dexterity.

The Magic of Liquid Crystal Elastomers

Futuristic soft robot made of glowing liquid crystal material, bending and twisting in complex shapes.

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCNs) are synthetic polymer networks that combine the properties of liquid crystals and elastomers. This unique combination gives them the ability to respond to external stimuli, such as light, by changing their shape in a controlled manner. The secret lies in the molecular structure of LCNs, which consists of mesogens (liquid crystalline building blocks) aligned within a polymer network. This alignment can be precisely controlled during manufacturing, allowing engineers to pre-program how the material will deform when exposed to light.

One of the key components in light-fueled LCNs are photoswitchable molecules, such as azobenzene derivatives. These molecules undergo a reversible change in shape when exposed to light of a specific wavelength, a process known as photoisomerization. When azobenzene molecules within an LCN absorb light, they trigger a change in the alignment of the mesogens, which in turn causes the material to bend, twist, or contract. The ability to control the molecular alignment and the type of photoswitchable molecules used allows for a wide range of possible deformations.

LCN-based soft robots offer several advantages:
Here are some advantages of LCN-based soft robots:
  • Adaptability: Soft robots can adapt to unpredictable obstacles and environments.
  • Dexterity: Flexible joints and links allow for complex and precise movements.
  • Miniaturization: Light-powered actuation enables the creation of very small robots.
  • Remote Control: Light provides a clean and tunable energy source for remote operation.
While pneumatic systems have been used, smart materials offer a more streamlined approach by allowing the power source to be separate from the robot itself. This is particularly important for micro-robotics, where traditional power sources are difficult to implement.

The Future is Bright (and Flexible)

The field of light-fueled LCN robotics is still in its early stages, but the potential applications are vast. From medical devices that can navigate the human body to environmental sensors that can adapt to changing conditions, these shape-shifting robots promise to revolutionize various industries. As researchers continue to refine the materials, fabrication techniques, and control mechanisms, we can expect to see even more innovative and sophisticated light-fueled robots emerge in the years to come. These robots will not only mimic the movements of natural systems but will also possess their own unique forms of intelligence, enabling them to solve complex problems and interact seamlessly with the world around them.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1002/9783527816774.ch6, Alternate LINK

Title: Liquid Crystal Polymer Networks And Elastomers For Light‐Fueled Robotics

Journal: Photoactive Functional Soft Materials

Publisher: Wiley

Authors: Hao Zeng, Markus Lahikainen, Owies M. Wani, Alex Berdin, Arri Priimagi

Published: 2018-11-19

Everything You Need To Know

1

How does light fuel soft robots, and what advantages do they offer over traditional robots?

Light-fueled soft robotics utilizes liquid crystal elastomers (LCNs) that change shape when exposed to light. Traditional robots have rigid bodies, whereas soft robots use flexible materials for greater motion. Photoactuation, using light to trigger movement, allows miniaturization and remote control. LCNs offer adaptability, dexterity, and make power sources separate from the robot, unlike pneumatic systems. The field is in its early stages, but the applications are vast.

2

What exactly are liquid crystal elastomers (LCNs), and how do they enable shape-shifting in robots?

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCNs) are synthetic polymer networks that combine liquid crystals and elastomers, responding to light by changing shape. The molecular structure of LCNs consists of mesogens aligned within a polymer network. Photoswitchable molecules, like azobenzene derivatives, undergo photoisomerization when exposed to light, triggering changes in mesogen alignment, and causing the material to deform. Controlling molecular alignment allows for various deformations.

3

What are the key benefits of using liquid crystal elastomer (LCN)-based soft robots?

The primary advantage of light-fueled soft robots with liquid crystal elastomers (LCNs) is their adaptability to unpredictable environments and obstacles. Their flexible joints and links provide dexterity for complex movements. Light-powered actuation enables miniaturization, and light provides a clean energy source for remote operation. Traditional power sources are difficult to implement in micro-robotics, making smart materials a streamlined approach.

4

What does the future hold for light-fueled liquid crystal elastomer (LCN) robotics?

Light-fueled LCN robotics is still in its early stages, but the applications are vast, including medical devices and environmental sensors. Researchers are refining the materials, fabrication techniques, and control mechanisms. Future robots are expected to mimic natural systems, solve complex problems, and interact seamlessly with the world. This advancement promises a revolution across various industries through sophisticated designs and unique forms of intelligence.

5

What are the limitations of traditional robotics, and how do soft robots overcome them using liquid crystal elastomers (LCNs)?

Traditional robots have limitations due to their rigid bodies and mechanics. Soft robots overcome these limitations by utilizing flexible materials, allowing for a greater range of motion and adaptability. Liquid crystal elastomers (LCNs) with photoactuation offer capabilities such as miniaturization, remote control, and dexterity, which are difficult to achieve with traditional robotics. This shift represents a radical departure towards robots that can act autonomously and safely interact with humans.

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