Venom-inspired soft robot shapeshifts, stretches, and swings with ease

Researchers at the University of Bristol and Queen Mary University of London have developed a groundbreaking soft robot inspired by the comic book character Venom, capable of shapeshifting, stretching, and swinging with remarkable agility. This robot is powered by an innovative electro-morphing gel (e-MG), a soft polymer composite embedded with nanocrystalline conductors that respond to electric fields. When voltage is applied via ultralight electrodes, the gel can rapidly bend, stretch, or contract, enabling lifelike, multidirectional movements without the need for bulky external magnets or mechanical parts. The robot demonstrated exceptional endurance, maintaining consistent performance over 10,000 actuation cycles, and performed complex deformations beyond the capabilities of existing soft robots. The versatility of the e-MG technology opens up diverse applications across industries such as medical wearables, rescue operations, and space exploration. Its geometry can be customized for specific tasks, and it can be integrated with rigid robotic components to form hybrid machines capable of operating in high-st