Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36725304›Full record

ArticleAdvanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)2023

4D Printing of Humidity-Driven Seed Inspired Soft Robots.

Luca Cecchini, Stefano Mariani, Marilena Ronzan, Alessio Mondini, Nicola M Pugno, Barbara Mazzolai

Open access · goldFull text read
In one paragraph

Article in Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany), 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 19 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
19citing papers in PubMed
13.1field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

19 citing papers in PubMed, 101 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Smart Bioinks for 4D Bioprinting: Requirements, Design, and Applications.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2026
    Review
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Ecosystem-Centered Robot Design: Toward Ecoresorbable Sustainability Robots (ESRs).Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2026
    Review
  6. Discrete Actuation of Water-Responsive Crystalline Metal-Peptide Frameworks.Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English) · 2025
    Article
  7. Article
  8. Thermally Actuated Soft Robotics.Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) · 2025
    Review
  9. Programmable seconds-to-days-long delayed snapping in jumping metashells.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2025
    Article
  10. An Ultra-Fast Rolling Double-Helical Robot Driven by Constant Humidity.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2025
    Article
  11. Hydrogel-Based Continuum Soft Robots.Gels (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025
    Review
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Soft Robots with Plant-Inspired Gravitropism Based on Fluidic Liquid Metal.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2024
    Article
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. Review
  18. Article
  19. 4D Printing of Humidity-Driven Seed Inspired Soft Robots.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2023
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Luca CecchiniBioinspired Soft Robotics Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, Genova, 16163, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5135-1623
Stefano MarianiBioinspired Soft Robotics Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, Genova, 16163, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8483-7005
Marilena RonzanBioinspired Soft Robotics Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, Genova, 16163, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5349-8146
Alessio MondiniBioinspired Soft Robotics Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, Genova, 16163, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2303-2844
Nicola M PugnoLaboratory for Bioinspired, Bionic, Nano, Meta Materials and Mechanics, Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University di Trento, Via Mesiano 77, Trento, 38123, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2136-2396
Barbara MazzolaiBioinspired Soft Robotics Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, Genova, 16163, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0722-8350
Italian Institute of Technology · ITQueen Mary University of London · GBUniversity of Trento · IT

Funding

European Unions Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme 101017940
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Geraniaceae seeds represent a role model in soft robotics thanks to their ability to move autonomously across and into the soil driven by humidity changes. The secret behind their mobility and adaptivity is embodied in the hierarchical structures and anatomical features of the biological hygroscopic tissues, geometrically designed to be selectively responsive to environmental humidity. Following a bioinspired approach, the internal structure and biomechanics of Pelargonium appendiculatum (L.f.) Willd seeds are investigated to develop a model for the design of a soft robot. The authors exploit the re-shaping ability of 4D printed materials to fabricate a seed-like soft robot, according to the natural specifications and model, and using biodegradable and hygroscopic polymers. The robot mimics the movement and performances of the natural seed, reaching a torque value of ≈30 µN m, an extensional force of ≈2.5 mN and it is capable to lift ≈100 times its own weight. Driven by environmental humidity changes, the artificial seed is able to explore a sample soil, adapting its morphology to interact with soil roughness and cracks.

Indexed as

4D printingbiodegradable polymersbioinspirationhygroscopic actuationsoft robotics

Identifiers

PMID36725304
PMCPMC10037692
OpenAlexW4318769778

What OpenQuestion holds

Textfull text, public
LicenceCC BY
measurements read64
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.