Collaborative Research: Chemotaxis-Driven Neuromorphic Amoeboid Hydrogel Microrobot (GEL-Bot)

NSF Award Search · 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT · $376,661 · view on nsf.gov ↗

Abstract

This project will develop a sub-millimeter scale robot with sensing and movement capabilities inspired by the amoeba. Like the amoeba, this robot will be able to follow biological and chemical traces in the surrounding environment by extending and contracting its body. The robot will be distinguished by its construction from uniformly soft composite materials, and by a seamlessly integrated information-processing system for converting sensed chemical signals into motion commands. The developed robot will have applications for minimally invasive medical diagnostics as well as structural inspection in confined spaces. This project will develop a micro hydrogel crawling robot with novel capabilities in selective electrochemical sensing, neuromorphic control, and thermal actuation, specifically enabled by (1) a hydrogel-MXene skin capable of detecting electrochemical changes in its surroundings; (2) 3D micro thermally activated hydrogel-nitinol actuators to power swimming and crawling gaits; (3) a functional hydrogel skin to facilitate thermal transport and interfacial friction reduction; and (4) neuromorphic circuitry incorporating MXene-hydrogel memristor elements to learn, compute, and control the sensorimotor connection. The design approach is inspired by the amoeba, whose behavior is governed by biochemical pathways linking chemical sensing and actuation mechanisms. Like the amoeba, the robot developed under this project will be capable of multimodal sensing and feedback-

Key facts

NSF award ID
2516177
Awardee
Regents of the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor (MI)
SAM.gov UEI
GNJ7BBP73WE9
PI
Xiaonan Huang
Primary program
01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
All programs
Artificial Intelligence (AI), ROBOTICS
Estimated total
$376,661
Funds obligated
$376,661
Transaction type
Standard Grant
Period
09/01/2025 → 08/31/2028