Multifunctional Fluidic Units for Emergent, Responsive Robotic Behaviors

Fluidic circuits have shown significant promise in enabling complex functionality in soft robots with a minimal number of input signals. However, implementing complex behaviors typically involves numerous specialized components, resulting in intricate and nonversatile circuits. To address this challenge, a multifunctional fluidic unit designed to operate flexibly as a valve, sensor, or actuator is introduced. This unit provides an extensive design space that allows precise tuning to achieve the desired functionality. In particular, one configuration integrates all three functions simultaneously, resulting in a self-sensing oscillating actuator. By assembling multiple units-each customized for specific roles-complex robotic behaviors can be realized. The versatility and effectiveness of this modular approach are demonstrated by creating several robotic systems, including a controlled shaker, a multimodal hopper, and a crawler capable of sensing environmental boundaries. Furthermore, when these units are mechanically coupled via a shared body, it exhibit emergent passive behaviors, such as self-synchronization-a behavior that is elucidated with a Kuramoto model of networks of oscillators. This study highlights the potential of multifunctionality as a powerful and efficient strategy for realizing embodied intelligence in fluidic robotic systems.