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Harvard Researchers Develop 3D Printing Method for Soft Robots
New fabrication technique allows for rapid customization of shape-morphing devices
Published on Feb. 6, 2026
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Researchers at Harvard University have developed a new 3D printing method that allows for the rapid fabrication of soft robots with customizable shape-morphing capabilities. The technique, called rotational multimaterial 3D printing, combines several existing Harvard-developed printing techniques to create filaments with precisely placed hollow channels that can be pressurized to make the robots bend and deform in predetermined ways.
Why it matters
Soft robots made from flexible, biocompatible materials are in high demand across industries, but designing and controlling them has been a challenge. This new 3D printing method offers a simpler and more customizable approach to creating soft robots for applications ranging from healthcare to manufacturing.
The details
The new fabrication method, described in a study published in Advanced Materials, involves printing filaments made of a polyurethane outer shell with an inner channel made of a polymer commonly found in hair gels. By precisely controlling the printer nozzle's design, rotation speed, and material flow rate, the researchers were able to program the orientation, shape, and size of each inner channel. After the outer shell solidified, they washed away the inner polymer, leaving behind tubular structures with hollow channels that can be pressurized to make the robots bend and deform.
- The study was led by graduate student Jackson Wilt and former postdoctoral researcher Natalie Larson, and the work was supported by federal funding from the National Science Foundation and the Army Research Office.
- The research was conducted in the lab of Jennifer Lewis, the Hansjorg Wyss Professor of Biologically Inspired Engineering at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
The players
Jackson Wilt
A graduate student who led the study.
Natalie Larson
A former postdoctoral researcher who co-led the study and is now an assistant professor at Stanford University.
Jennifer Lewis
The Hansjorg Wyss Professor of Biologically Inspired Engineering at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and the supervisor of the research.
What they’re saying
“We use two materials from a single outlet, which can be rotated to program the direction the robot bends when inflated. Our goals are aligned with creating soft, bio-inspired robots for various applications.”
— Jackson Wilt, Graduate student (harvard.edu)
“In this work, we don't have a mold. We print the structures, we program them rapidly, and we're able to quickly customize actuation.”
— Jackson Wilt, Graduate student (harvard.edu)
What’s next
The researchers plan to continue exploring the potential applications of their 3D printing method for soft robotics, including in the fields of healthcare and manufacturing.
The takeaway
This new 3D printing technique developed at Harvard offers a simpler and more customizable approach to creating soft robots, which could lead to advancements in a wide range of industries that rely on flexible, biocompatible robotic devices.
