Check out a new paper about liquid crystal elastome rings showing collective motion without electronics

Researchers at Tampere University in collaboration with Chinese Anhui Jianzhu University have developed soft matter rings that move autonomously when heated, mimicking natural group behaviors like swarming. Made from liquid crystal elastomers, these rings twist into various shapes and move using a mechanical principle called the zero elastic energy mode (ZEEM).

When linked together, the rings interact mechanically to produce coordinated motion—without any electronics or programming. By adjusting how the rings are connected, the team could control the direction and type of movement.

This discovery could lead to new applications in soft robotics, smart materials, and biomedical devices, offering a simple yet powerful way to create responsive systems that behave collectively.

Read the full article here.

The video showing an example of the heat-induced locmotion movements of three connected rings made of thermoresponsive liquid crystal elastomers.