Multi-Responsive Microrobots Enabled by Chemistry and Materials Design

Abstract

At the microscale, robotic intelligence cannot rely on circuits or processors; instead, it must emerge directly from responsive materials. Chemistry provides the means: polymers, catalytic and magnetic materials enable single responsive mechanisms such as propulsion and sensing, forming the foundations of physical intelligence. Yet these functions remain limited in isolation. The next step is multiple responsiveness, where combined mechanisms create richer, autonomous behaviours. Conventional monolithic designs often suffer from interference and poor tunability, but modular assembly strategies now offer a solution by integrating discrete functional units without cross-talk. This review traces the progression from single to modular multi-responsive microrobots and highlights how such systems could achieve life-like adaptability for biomedical and environmental applications.