Biohybrid chiral materials for an ultralight reconfigurable flying robot

Abstract

Structural handedness plays a key role in governing various motions in animals and plants, especially for rotational motion and aerodynamic response in flying systems. However, harnessing handedness in artificial materials to enable dynamic, wireless control of untethered miniature flyers remains largely unexplored. Here, we report a feather-polymer hybrid chiral flyer that achieves light-controlled airborne motion. The device integrates natural afterfeathers with a light-responsive actuator synthesized via photopolymerization of azobenzene-functionalized groups, enabling programmable and reversible photomechanical actuation. The handedness of the flyer arises from actuator-induced torsion, while optical modulation of aerodynamic drag allows controlled spinning and altitude adjustment under steady airflow. We demonstrate independent control of multiple untethered flyers and midair collection through vortex-induced aggregation. Computational fluid dynamics simulations reveal asymmetric pressure gradients that are associated with the direction of rotation, while localized low-airflow regions facilitate aerial trapping. These findings introduce a strategy for programmable, wireless ultralight flyers, bridging natural structures and synthetic actuators toward intelligent airborne systems.