{"id":692247,"date":"2025-09-27T07:35:10","date_gmt":"2025-09-27T04:35:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/novel-film-manufacturing-technique-lets-robots-walk-on-water\/"},"modified":"2025-09-27T07:35:10","modified_gmt":"2025-09-27T04:35:10","slug":"novel-film-manufacturing-technique-lets-robots-walk-on-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/novel-film-manufacturing-technique-lets-robots-walk-on-water\/","title":{"rendered":"Novel film manufacturing technique lets robots walk on water"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3befb4dbb12\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3befb4dbb12\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/novel-film-manufacturing-technique-lets-robots-walk-on-water\/#Printing_films_on_water\" >Printing films on water<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2025\/novel-film-manufacturi.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2025\/novel-film-manufacturi.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Application demonstrations of on-liquid walkable devices. Credit: &lt;i&gt;Science Advances&lt;\/i&gt; (2025). DOI: 10.1126\/sciadv.ady9840\">\n<figure class=\"article-img\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2025\/novel-film-manufacturi.jpg\" alt=\"Novel film manufacturing technique lets robots walk on water\" title=\"Application demonstrations of on-liquid walkable devices. Credit: Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126\/sciadv.ady9840\" width=\"800\" height=\"529\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-darken text-low-up text-truncate-js text-truncate mt-3\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">App<\/a>lication demonstrations of on-liquid walkable devices. Credit: <i><a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/sciencee\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"5\" title=\"Science\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Science<\/a> Advances<\/i> (2025). DOI: 10.1126\/sciadv.ady9840<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Imagine tiny robots zipping across the surface of a lake to check water quality or searching for people in flooded areas. This <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/technology\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"4\" title=\"Technology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">technology<\/a> is moving closer to reality thanks to work by researchers at the University of Virginia&#8217;s School of Engineering and Applied Science. Inspired by nature and insects such as water striders that walk on water, they created two prototype devices that can propel themselves across liquid surfaces.<\/p>\n<p>The first, called HydroFlexor, paddles across a surface using fin-like motions. The second, named HydroBuckler, &#8220;walks&#8221; forward with a buckling motion that mimics the water-walking insects. The key innovation that made this possible is a technology developed by the team called HydroSpread.<\/p>\n<p>To float and move on the surface of a liquid, robots need ultrathin, flexible films. Traditional approaches to making such films involve manufacturing them on a rigid surface, such as glass, and then transferring them to water, which often damages or breaks the film. However, the HydroSpread technique allows the films to be made directly on the liquid.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"mb-4\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/VideoObject\">\n    <meta itemprop=\"name\" content=\"Novel film manufacturing technique lets robots walk on water\"\/><br \/>\n    <meta itemprop=\"url\" content=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/video\/2025\/novel-film-manufacturi.mp4\"\/><br \/>\n    <meta itemprop=\"description\" content=\"Credit: Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126\/sciadv.ady9840\"\/><br \/>\n    <meta itemprop=\"uploadDate\" content=\"2025-09-26T12:06:22-04:00\"\/><br \/>\n        <meta itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/video_tmb\/2025\/novel-film-manufacturi.mp4.jpg\"\/><br \/>\n    <meta itemprop=\"contentUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/video\/2025\/novel-film-manufacturi.mp4\"\/><br \/>\n            <video class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\" id=\"jwVID85231\" controls=\"\" poster=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/video_tmb\/2025\/novel-film-manufacturi.mp4.jpg\"><source src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/video\/2025\/novel-film-manufacturi.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"><\/source><\/video><figcaption class=\"text-darken text-low-up mt-4\" itemprop=\"caption\">Credit: Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126\/sciadv.ady9840<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Printing_films_on_water\"><\/span>Printing films on water<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The researchers detail this process in a new paper <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.science.org\/doi\/10.1126\/sciadv.ady9840\" target=\"_blank\">published<\/a> in the journal <i>Science Advances<\/i>. First, they deposited a liquid polymer ink onto the water&#8217;s surface, where it spread out to form an ultrathin, seamless film. Then a laser was used to cut and pattern the film, creating the legs and body shapes of the robot directly on the water. The films are bilayered, composed of two different layers. When heat from an external infrared source was applied, the two layers expanded at different rates. This difference caused the film to bend and buckle, creating movement.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This work eliminates fragile postfabrication transfers in soft device manufacturing, bridging the gap between soft films and structure fabrication, and establishes a streamlined pathway for designing and deploying functional soft devices directly in liquid environments,&#8221; commented the research team in their paper.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"mb-4\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/VideoObject\">\n    <meta itemprop=\"name\" content=\"Novel film manufacturing technique lets robots walk on water\"\/><br \/>\n    <meta itemprop=\"url\" content=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/video\/2025\/novel-film-manufacturi-1.mp4\"\/><br \/>\n    <meta itemprop=\"description\" content=\"Credit: Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126\/sciadv.ady9840\"\/><br \/>\n    <meta itemprop=\"uploadDate\" content=\"2025-09-26T12:06:25-04:00\"\/><br \/>\n        <meta itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/video_tmb\/2025\/novel-film-manufacturi-1.mp4.jpg\"\/><br \/>\n    <meta itemprop=\"contentUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/video\/2025\/novel-film-manufacturi-1.mp4\"\/><br \/>\n            <video class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\" id=\"jwVID85232\" controls=\"\" poster=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/video_tmb\/2025\/novel-film-manufacturi-1.mp4.jpg\"><source src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/video\/2025\/novel-film-manufacturi-1.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"><\/source><\/video><figcaption class=\"text-darken text-low-up mt-4\" itemprop=\"caption\">Credit: Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126\/sciadv.ady9840<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The HydroSpread method is a major achievement in soft robotics. It works with various types of inks and liquids, making the scalable mass production of these complex devices possible. Ultimately, this technology enables scientists to transform flimsy film materials into robust soft devices that are ready for use in aquatic settings, such as monitoring water quality, aiding search and rescue efforts, or conducting environmental sensing.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond robotics, the innovative technique could be used to create ultrathin, resilient films for wearable medical devices and highly durable, bendable components for next-generation electronics.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-main__support\">\n<p>\n    Written for you by our author <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/sciencex.com\/help\/editorial-team\/#authors\" target=\"_blank\">Paul Arnold<\/a>, edited by <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/sciencex.com\/help\/editorial-team\/\" target=\"_blank\">Gaby Clark<\/a>, and fact-checked and reviewed by <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/sciencex.com\/help\/editorial-team\/\" target=\"_blank\">Robert Egan<\/a>\u2014this article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive.<br \/>\n    If this reporting matters to you,<br \/>\n    please consider a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/sciencex.com\/donate\/?utm_source=story&amp;utm_medium=story&amp;utm_campaign=story\">donation<\/a> (especially monthly).<br \/>\n    You&#8217;ll get an <b>ad-free<\/b> account as a thank-you.\n    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"article-main__more p-4\">\n<p><strong>More information:<\/strong><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tZiyu Chen et al, Processing soft thin films on liquid surface for seamless creation of on-liquid walkable devices, <i>Science Advances<\/i> (2025). <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-doi=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1126\/sciadv.ady9840\" target=\"_blank\">DOI: 10.1126\/sciadv.ady9840<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"article-main__note mt-4\">\n                                                \u00a9 2025 Science X Network\n                                            <\/p>\n<p>                                        <!-- print only --><\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none d-print-block\">\n<p>\n                                                <strong>Citation<\/strong>:<br \/>\n                                                Novel film manufacturing technique lets robots walk on water (2025, September 26)<br \/>\n                                                retrieved 27 September 2025<br \/>\n                                                from https:\/\/techxplore.com\/<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a>\/2025-09-technique-robots.html\n                                            <\/p>\n<p>\n                                            This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no<br \/>\n                                            part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.\n                                            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script id=\"facebook-jssdk\" async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more Like this articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/sciencee\/\" target=\"_blank\" >Science category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/techxplore.com\/news\/2025-09-technique-robots.html\" target=\"_blank\" >Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Application demonstrations of on-liquid walkable devices. Credit: Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126\/sciadv.ady9840 Imagine tiny robots zipping across the surface of a lake to check water quality or searching for people in flooded areas. This technology is moving closer to reality thanks to work by researchers at the University of Virginia&#8217;s School of Engineering and Applied&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":692248,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2025\/novel-film-manufacturi.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-692247","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sciencee"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/692247","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=692247"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/692247\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/692248"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=692247"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=692247"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=692247"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}