Figure 4: Flytrap-type capture motion and applications.

(a) Measured force from one LCE actuating arm as a function of illuminated laser intensity. Inset: schematic drawing of the experimental set up. Error bars indicate force sensor accuracy (10 μN) plus the s.d. for n = 3 measurements. (b) Response time of gripping motion for scattering and absorbing targets by using different laser powers. The error bars indicate the imaging system accuracy (4°) in single measurement. (c) The optical flytrap mimics the motion of a natural flytrap by capturing a small scattering object falling on the gripper (P=200 mW). (d) Demonstration of self-detection in a moving production line: no response to a transparent cubic (low reflectivity) or an absorbing cubic (long response time), automatic closure when meeting a highly scattering cubic, creating sufficient optical feedback. P=150 mW. Inset: zoom-in side-view optical image of gripping of the scattering cubic. All scale bars are 5 mm. An optical filter is used to block wavelengths below 500 nm for all the photographs.