Research News
[Prof. Ho-Young Kim and Jeong-Yun Sun, GU Prof. Keunhwan Park Joint Research Team] Develop a Liquid Robot Capable of Transformi
Author
김민아
Date
2025-03-25
Views
93
SNU Professors Ho-Young Kim and Jeong-Yun Sun, GU Professor Keunhwan Park Lead Joint Research Team to Develop a Liquid Robot Capable of Transforming, Splitting, and Merging Like Living Cells
- Next-generation soft robot demonstrated to pass through narrow gaps like the T-1000 in Terminator 2
- Expected applications in biomedical fields, such as targeted drug delivery and treatment inside the human body
- Published in the prestigious international journal Science Advances
▲ (From left) Hyobin Jeon, Researcher at Seoul National University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering; Professor Keunhwan Park of Gachon University’s Department of Mechanical, Smart, and Industrial Engineering; Professor Jeong-Yun Sun of Seoul National University’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering; and Professor Ho-Young Kim of Seoul National University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering
A liquid robot capable of transforming, separating, and fusing freely like living cells has been developed.
Seoul National University College of Engineering announced that a joint research team led by Professor Ho-Young Kim from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Professor Jeong-Yun Sun from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and Professor Keunhwan Park from the Department of Mechanical, Smart, and Industrial Engineering at Gachon University has successfully developed a next-generation soft robot based on liquid.
This research was published in the world-renowned journal Science Advances on March 21.
Biological cells possess the ability to deform freely divide, fuse, and capture foreign substances. Research efforts have long been dedicated to replicating these unique capabilities in artificial systems. However, traditional solid-based robots have faced limitations in effectively mimicking the flexibility and functionality of living cells.
To overcome these challenges, the joint research team successfully developed a particle-armored liquid robot, encased in unusually dense hydrophobic (water-repelling) particles. This novel next-generation soft robot benefits from both the exceptional deformability of liquid and the structural stability of solid. As a result, it can withstand extreme compression or high-impact drops, recovering its original shape like a droplet without breaking.
Leveraging these strengths, the joint research team demonstrated various functions of the liquid robot. Similar to the liquid robot T-1000 from the 1991 movie Terminator 2, this innovative robot can pass through metal bars, capture and transport foreign substances, and merge with other liquid robots. Additionally, it can move freely across both surfaces of water and solid ground. The research team experimentally proved that the liquid robot could continuously perform these tasks and developed a technique to control its movement at desired speeds using ultrasound.
Thus, the newly developed liquid robot is expected to be utilized in biomedical and soft robotics applications, such as targeted drug delivery and therapeutic interventions inside the human body. Furthermore, due to its ability to pass through extremely narrow spaces, it could be deployed in large numbers inside complex machinery, between obstacles in rugged terrain, and in disaster zones to conduct exploration, cleaning, chemical-based obstacle removal, and nutrient supply operations.
Hyobin Jeon, the first author of the paper, stated, “When we first started developing the liquid robot, we initially considered encapsulating a spherical droplet with particles, just as adopted in making conventional liquid marbles. However, by shifting our perspective, we came up with the idea of coating an ice cube with particles and then melting it, which significantly enhanced the stability of our robots.”
Professor Ho-Young Kim, the corresponding author, remarked, “Building upon our current findings, we are now working on technologies that will allow the liquid robot to change shape freely using sound waves or electric fields.” Co-corresponding author Professor Jeong-Yun Sun added, “We plan to enhance the material functionality of the liquid robot to enable broader industrial applications in the future.”
▲ Figure 1. (Left) A scene from the movie Terminator 2 where the liquid robot passes through metal bars, (Right) An image showing the developed liquid robot penetrating a pillar array and capturing foreign substances.
▲ Figure 2. The liquid robot moves across the water’s surface, captures a foreign substance, and returns to its original position.
▲ Figure 3. (Left) Two liquid robots, each carrying different foreign substances, merge after falling, inducing a chemical reaction inside, (Right) The liquid robot releases and retrieves internal substances at the target location.
[Reference Materials]
- Title/Journal : “Particle-armored liquid robots”, Science Advances
- DOI : https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adt5888
[Contact Information]
Ho-Young Kim, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University / hyk@snu.ac.kr
- Next-generation soft robot demonstrated to pass through narrow gaps like the T-1000 in Terminator 2
- Expected applications in biomedical fields, such as targeted drug delivery and treatment inside the human body
- Published in the prestigious international journal Science Advances
▲ (From left) Hyobin Jeon, Researcher at Seoul National University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering; Professor Keunhwan Park of Gachon University’s Department of Mechanical, Smart, and Industrial Engineering; Professor Jeong-Yun Sun of Seoul National University’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering; and Professor Ho-Young Kim of Seoul National University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering
A liquid robot capable of transforming, separating, and fusing freely like living cells has been developed.
Seoul National University College of Engineering announced that a joint research team led by Professor Ho-Young Kim from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Professor Jeong-Yun Sun from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and Professor Keunhwan Park from the Department of Mechanical, Smart, and Industrial Engineering at Gachon University has successfully developed a next-generation soft robot based on liquid.
This research was published in the world-renowned journal Science Advances on March 21.
Biological cells possess the ability to deform freely divide, fuse, and capture foreign substances. Research efforts have long been dedicated to replicating these unique capabilities in artificial systems. However, traditional solid-based robots have faced limitations in effectively mimicking the flexibility and functionality of living cells.
To overcome these challenges, the joint research team successfully developed a particle-armored liquid robot, encased in unusually dense hydrophobic (water-repelling) particles. This novel next-generation soft robot benefits from both the exceptional deformability of liquid and the structural stability of solid. As a result, it can withstand extreme compression or high-impact drops, recovering its original shape like a droplet without breaking.
Leveraging these strengths, the joint research team demonstrated various functions of the liquid robot. Similar to the liquid robot T-1000 from the 1991 movie Terminator 2, this innovative robot can pass through metal bars, capture and transport foreign substances, and merge with other liquid robots. Additionally, it can move freely across both surfaces of water and solid ground. The research team experimentally proved that the liquid robot could continuously perform these tasks and developed a technique to control its movement at desired speeds using ultrasound.
Thus, the newly developed liquid robot is expected to be utilized in biomedical and soft robotics applications, such as targeted drug delivery and therapeutic interventions inside the human body. Furthermore, due to its ability to pass through extremely narrow spaces, it could be deployed in large numbers inside complex machinery, between obstacles in rugged terrain, and in disaster zones to conduct exploration, cleaning, chemical-based obstacle removal, and nutrient supply operations.
Hyobin Jeon, the first author of the paper, stated, “When we first started developing the liquid robot, we initially considered encapsulating a spherical droplet with particles, just as adopted in making conventional liquid marbles. However, by shifting our perspective, we came up with the idea of coating an ice cube with particles and then melting it, which significantly enhanced the stability of our robots.”
Professor Ho-Young Kim, the corresponding author, remarked, “Building upon our current findings, we are now working on technologies that will allow the liquid robot to change shape freely using sound waves or electric fields.” Co-corresponding author Professor Jeong-Yun Sun added, “We plan to enhance the material functionality of the liquid robot to enable broader industrial applications in the future.”
▲ Figure 1. (Left) A scene from the movie Terminator 2 where the liquid robot passes through metal bars, (Right) An image showing the developed liquid robot penetrating a pillar array and capturing foreign substances.
▲ Figure 2. The liquid robot moves across the water’s surface, captures a foreign substance, and returns to its original position.
▲ Figure 3. (Left) Two liquid robots, each carrying different foreign substances, merge after falling, inducing a chemical reaction inside, (Right) The liquid robot releases and retrieves internal substances at the target location.
[Reference Materials]
- Title/Journal : “Particle-armored liquid robots”, Science Advances
- DOI : https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adt5888
[Contact Information]
Ho-Young Kim, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University / hyk@snu.ac.kr
