Data from: 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.