Venus Flytrap-Inspired Data-Center-Free Fast-Responsive Soft Robots Enabled by 2D Ni₃(HITP)₂ MOF and Graphite

The rapid and responsive capabilities of soft robots in perceiving, assessing, and reacting to environmental stimuli are highly valuable. However, many existing soft robots, designed to mimic humans and other higher animals, often rely on data centers for the modulation of mechanoelectrical transduction and electromechanical actuation. This reliance significantly increases system complexity and time delays. Herein, drawing inspiration from Venus flytraps, a soft robot employing a power modulation strategy is presented for active stimulus reaction, eliminating the need for a data center. This robot achieves mechanoelectrical transduction through Ni₃(2,3,6,7,10,11-hexaiminotriphenylene)₂ (Ni₃(HITP)₂) metal–organic framework (MOF) with an ultralow time delay (256 ns) and electromechanical actuation via graphite. The Joule heating effect in graphite is effectively modulated by Ni₃(HITP)₂ before and after the presence of pressure, thus enabling the stimulus reaction of soft robots. As demonstrated, three soft robots are created: low-level edge tongue robots, Venus flytrap robots, and high-level nerve-center-controlled dragonfly robots. This power modulation strategy inspires designs of edge soft robots and high-level robots with a human-like effective fusion of conditioned and unconditioned reflexes.