Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction to Light-Driven Swimming Robots 1
1.1 General 1
1.2 The History of Light-Driven Swimming Robots 3
1.2.1 Early exploration phase (1980s-1990s) 3
1.2.2 Technology nascent phase (2000s) 3
1.2.3 Technology integration phase (2010s) 4
1.2.4 Application expansion phase (2020s to present) 4
1.3 Current Status of Research on Light-Driven Swimming Robots 5
1.4 Summary 9
References 9

Chapter 2 Basic Principles of Light-Driven Swimming Robots 12
2.1 General 12
2.2 Photophysical Drive 14
2.2.1 Photothermal effect 14
2.2.2 Photonic momentum transfer 17
2.2.3 Phototropic deformation 21
2.3 Photochemical Drive 23
2.3.1 Photoisomerization 23
2.3.2 Photodegradation reaction 26
2.4 Summary 30
References 31

Chapter 3 Design and Preparation of Photoresponsive Composites 35
3.1 General 35
3.2 Material Selection 36
3.2.1 Photothermal materials 36
3.2.2 Photochemical materials 39
3.2.3 Shape-memory materials 41
3.2.4 Photoelectrophoretic materials 46
3.3 Structural Design 50
3.3.1 Thin-film or sheet structures 50
3.3.2 Micro-and nano-structures 53
3.3.3 Bionic structures 56
3.3.4 Multi-level structure 60
3.4 Preparation Methods 64
3.4.1 3D printing technology 64
3.4.2 Lithography 66
3.4.3 Self-assembly technology 69
3.4.4 Physico-chemical deposition techniques 73
3.4.5 In situ redox 76
3.4.6 Laser processing technology 79
3.5 Functional Integration 82
3.5.1 Optical control systems 82
3.5.2 Sensing systems 83
3.5.3 Energy storage systems 85
3.6 Summary 87
References 88

Chapter 4 Motion Control of a Light-Driven Swimming Robot and Its Navigation 98

Chapter 5 Prospects for the Application of Light-Driven Swimming Robots 119

Chapter 6 Challenges and Urgent Issues in the Field of Light-Driven Swimming Robots 155

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