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A tiny soft-bodied robot is described that can be magnetically actuated to swim, climb, roll, walk and jump, while carrying a load.

A strategy compatible with a broad range of materials by precisely manipulating optofluidic interactions within a confined 3D space to control the assembly of colloidal microparticles/nanoparticles is demonstrated, enabling the precise manufacture of complex microstructures/nanostructures.

Accessibility into the distal vascular systems to treat various diseases remains challenging using medical catheters. Here, Wang et al. demonstrate that a stent-shaped wireless magnetic soft robot enables adaptive locomotion and medical functions into these distal vascular regions.

3D-printed gel microcilia arrays printed by two-photon polymerization and composed of a soft acrylic acid-co-acrylamide hydrogel with a nanometre-scale network structure are shown to respond to low-voltage electrical stimuli within milliseconds, enabling dynamic individual control and non-reciprocal 3D motion.

This study introduces nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) magnetic sensing for wireless tracking, enabling millimeter-scale accuracy and miniaturized trackers for guidewires, soft, and shape morphing medical devices.

Untethered soft robots developed to date display limited functionalities beyond locomotion and cargo delivery. Here, the authors present a pangolin-inspired robotic design which enables heating > 70 °C at distances > 5 cm without compromising their compliance, for biomedical applications.

A robotic system has been demonstrated in which the random motion of individual components leads to deterministic behaviour, much as occurs in living systems. Environmental and medical applications could follow.

Nanobots — tiny robots that can be injected into the body to perform medical procedures — are the stuff of science fiction. Swimming microrobots propelled by artificial flagella bring that fantasy closer to reality.

This study introduces a data-driven framework that combines stochastic optimization, simulations, and neural networks to design shape-morphing magnetic soft materials. The approach enables complex 3D transformations, enhancing robotic functions.

High-precision 3D micro-/nanofabrication technologies such as two-photon polymerization are limited to photocurable polymers. Here, the authors report a “capillary-trapping” strategy to fabricate various 3D micro-scaffolds composed of different nanomaterials.

A real-time in situ magnetization reprogramming method for magnetic soft robots enables dynamic shape control, cooperative multi-tool manipulation and expanded actuation abilities.

Many mechanical computation platforms developed till date lack a rational design strategy and have limited computational functions, such as stand-alone single logic gates, or deformation/transition behaviors. Byun at al. have reported a systematic design principle for integrated mechanical computing that enables the electronics-free design of autonomous and intelligent soft machines, which are seamlessly integrated.

Light-induced artificial goosebumps on liquid crystal elastomer skin are used to precisely manipulate passive microstructures, achieving a localized and controllable system for programmable micromachines.

Wireless and localized stimulation of neural cells remains challenging. Here, the authors propose piezoelectric magnetic Janus microparticles that can target and stimulate neurons under low-intensity ultrasound through voltage-gated ion channels.

Here, the authors present a pseudo-diamagnetophoresis mattertronic approach for programmable manipulation of label-free cells. Immersed in biocompatible ferrofluids, single cells are moved along linear negative micromagnetic patterns, switched at eclipse diode patterns and stored in potential wells.

Responsive hydrogels containing multichannel information have potential in miniature devices, but their fabrication can be challenging. Here, the authors report the creation of hydrogel materials with each pixel containing three-channel information for printing of distinct images in one location.

Protein-based materials for soft robotics that self-heal within a second while maintaining the high strength of the damaged area are reported.

It is difficult to program a single stimuli-responsive geometry to transform into diverse final configurations in a systematic manner. Here, linearly responsive transparent hydrogels are developed to create micro-metastructures with wide-spectrum thermal reconfigurability.

Light-driven actuators have great potential in different types of applications but is still challenging to apply them in flying devices owing to their slow response, small deflection and force output. Here, the authors report a rotary flying photoactuator with fast rotation and rapid response.

Reconfigurability at the micro-scale is rare. Here, authors present a versatile magnetic microrobot collective that reconfigures on-demand among miscellaneous behaviors that allow for exploration, navigation, and interaction with diverse environments.

The effect of geometrical confinement on the locomotion of microrobots is crucial to operating them in real-world applications. Bozuyuk et al. show that the locomotion efficiency of microrollers decreases in confined spaces at high rotation frequencies and propose a slender geometry to overcome this problem.

Pre-patterning director fields into liquid crystal elastomers enables programmed morphing upon actuation. Guo et al. realize 3D skeletal assemblies with previously non-achievable director fields and morphing modes.

Magnetic, wireless miniature devices are promising for healthcare, information technology, and many other field but lack advanced fabrication methods for micrometer length scales. Here authors present a molding-integrated direct laser writing fabrication protocol to fabricate 3D micron-scale devices with programmable magnetization and multi-material integration.

Several factors have limited the potential/application of self-propelled chemical motors. Here, to address some of these concerns, the authors report on the development of squid-derived biodegradable motors, which use an anaesthetic metabolite for propulsion and demonstrate a range of different applications.

Actuation of hydrogel actuators relies on slow swelling and de-swelling process which hampers its application in many fields. Here the authors report a light-powered in-air hydrogel actuator with remarkable performances including fast motion, speed and rapid response time.

It is challenging to reduce the size of untethered swimming robots whilst keeping their multiple manipulation and other functions. Ren et al. achieve this goal using a jellyfish-inspired soft millirobot design in an oscillating magnetic field, which can be operated in fluids with moderate Reynolds numbers.

Mobile micromachines with advanced configurations and functions self-assembled through designed dielectrophoretic interactions between structural and motor units.

A microscale kirigami metasheet shows electronically programmable shape morphing with a high degree of freedom and intricate locomotion.

Soft small robots offer the opportunity to non-invasively access human tissue to perform medical operations and deliver drugs; however, challenges in materials design, biocompatibility and function control remain to be overcome for soft robots to reach the clinic.

Material selection has a crucial role in enhancing the functionality of medical microrobots. This Review highlights the synergy between contrast and responsive materials for real-time imaging and actuation in minimally invasive medical treatments.

Small-scale wireless soft robotic devices are promising tools for various medical applications. This Review outlines safety, navigation and functionality challenges, as well as the ethical and regulatory considerations that remain to be addressed for their clinical translation.

Microbots have attracted attention due to an ability to reach places and perform tasks which are not possible with conventional techniques in a wide range of applications. Here, the authors review the recent work in the field on the fabrication, application and actuation of 3D printed microbots offering a view of the direction of future microbot research.

The detailed design and fabrication of small-scale magnetic soft-bodied robots with multimodal locomotion capability, including the processes required for locomotion control and optimization.

Soft actuators are flexible and compliant and thus perfectly suited to interact with the human body. This Review discusses tethered, untethered and biohybrid soft actuation strategies, highlights promising real-world applications of soft robots and identifies key future challenges, such as implementing physical intelligence and end-of-life strategies.

By infusing a ferrofluid into a microstructured matrix and applying a magnetic field, dynamic, multiscale topographical reconfigurations emerge, enabling functions such as colloidal self-assembly, switchable adhesion and friction, and biofilm removal.