Near Infrared-Programmed <i>In Situ</i> Mechanical Reconfiguration of Adhesive Hydrogels for Pressure Distribution Recognition

Light driven soft actuators often struggle to integrate robust mechanical toughness, dynamic spatial tunability, and reliable on demand adhesion within a single material system. Here, we present a near infrared (NIR) light responsive hydrogel featuring dynamic noncovalent networks that enable the rapid and reversible reconfiguration of mechanical properties. The structural network integrates PVA chains to provide initial mechanical resilience and environmental durability, while the thermal responsive boronic ester bonds act as crosslinking junctions to ensure fast transition to a soft elastic state. This integrated architecture achieves a rare balance between high initial stiffness and on demand dynamic actuation, overcoming the long-standing trade off in responsive soft matters. Furthermore, the localized photothermal cleavage of the dynamic bonds exposes functional groups, which significantly enhances the interfacial adhesion to diverse surfaces, reaching approximately 48 kPa on aluminum. The localized photothermal reduction in mechanical stiffness endows the hydrogel with precise spatial control, enabling the design of untethered bionic actuators and interactive sensors. Beyond mechanical actuation, the hydrogel serves as a highly sensitive wearable electronic device, achieving precise human motion detection and Morse code communication. Furthermore, the integration of a 4 × 4 spatial pressure sensor array provides reliable tactile feedback for robotic manipulation tasks. This work highlights a versatile design strategy for programmable hydrogels, paving opportunities for smart interfaces, advanced human machine interaction, and adaptive soft robotic systems.