Bistable soft jumper capable of fast response and high take-off velocity

In contrast to jumping robots made from rigid materials, soft jumpers composed of compliant and elastically deformable materials exhibit superior impact resistance and mechanically robust functionality. However, recent efforts to create stimuli-responsive jumpers from soft materials are limited in their response speed, take-off velocity, and travel distance. Here, we report a magnetic-driven, ultrafast bistable soft jumper that exhibits the highest jumping capability (jumping over 108 body heights with a take-off velocity of over 2 m/s) and the fastest response time (less than 15 ms) compared to previous soft jumping robots. The snap-through transitions between bistable states form a repeatable loop that harnesses the ultrafast release of stored elastic energy. Based on the dynamic analysis, the multimodal locomotion of the bistable soft jumper can be realized: the interwell mode of jumping and the intrawell mode of hopping. These modes are controlled by adjusting the duration and strength of the magnetic field, which endows the bistable soft jumper with robust locomotion capabilities. In addition, it is capable of jumping omnidirectionally with tunable heights and distances. To demonstrate its capability in complex environment, a realistic pipeline with amphibious terrain was established. The jumper successfully finished the simulative task of cleansing polluted water through the pipeline. The design principle and actuating mechanism of the bistable soft jumper can be further extended for other flexible systems.