This research develops electrostatic artificial muscles for underwater robots inspired by the movement of fish and sharks. Unlike noisy propeller-driven systems, these soft actuators enable quieter, more efficient swimming that minimises disturbance to marine ecosystems, offering a promising alternative for environmental monitoring, reef surveys, and underwater infrastructure inspection.

This research develops programmable active materials that function like soft robots without electronics or external control systems. Using 3D-printed liquid crystal elastomers, the work engineers materials that sense temperature and autonomously deform, fold, and locomote, demonstrating how microscopic material structure can be programmed to produce complex robotic behavior.