Self‐Sensing Dandelion‐Inspired Flying Soft Actuator with Multi‐Stimuli Response

Abstract

Controlled dispersal of microfliers over large‐scale areas is crucial for both civil and agricultural applications. Until now, the study of flying soft actuators is limited by the complexity of the motion involved and with control when miniaturized to a micro‐scale. Drawing inspiration from the dynamics of dandelion seed spread, the study proposes a novel design for a flying soft actuator comprising Ti3C2Tx MXene and polyethylene (PE), which exhibits sensitive responses to various stimuli, including humidity, temperature, applied voltage, infrared light, and selective volatile organic compounds, leading to significant deformation at a rapid rate (up to 81.82°/s). An artificial seed capable of wind‐assisted flight is further fabricated by integrating a MXene/PE actuator with fiberglass. When exposed to light, the artificial seed opens its fiberglass pappus during descent, increasing resistance and thereby prolonging falling time by an impressive 83%. Moreover, the artificial seed demonstrates self‐sensing, i.e., changes in resistance caused by humidity and infrared light, which can be attributed to the absorption and desorption of water molecules within MXene layers. This enhanced falling time enables a wider dispersal range and precise control, making it highly promising for environmental monitoring, automated large‐scale sensor deployments, and large‐scale seed sowing for endangered plants species protection.