UMPSA Researchers Develop Malaysia’s First Humidity-Driven Smart Actuator Film

KUANTAN, Nov 26 (Bernama) -- A team of researchers from Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) has successfully developed ‘Paperbot’, Malaysia’s first paper-based smart actuator film, capable of moving autonomously when exposed to continuous humidity.

Project Leader Dr Zulhelmi Ismail said the paper-based autonomous soft actuator, created using pencil and origami techniques, can respond to air humidity, potentially serving as a new energy source for future robots.

“Paperbot is capable of reaching a maximum speed of 8 millimetres per second ‘PAPERBOT’and can be programmed to follow four different trajectories through specific design patterns.

“This innovation presents considerable opportunities in soft robotics, particularly for applications requiring flexible and autonomous movement in complex environments,” he said in a statement shared with Bernama.

The project, conducted at the Center for Advanced Materials Intelligence, also involves ChM researcher Dr Izan Izwan Misnon; postdoctoral fellow Dr Abu Haniffa Abdullah; and PhD students Ainizar Mustapa and Wan Farhana W Idris.

Zulhelmi said moisture presents an intriguing energy source, as water vapour is constantly present in the environment.

“Many studies have shown that the expansion and contraction of soft materials in response to humidity changes can generate useful motion capable of moving small devices,” he said.

According to the statement, the project is in line with the needs of future robotics and the Industrial Revolution 4.0 agenda, particularly in the development of lightweight, flexible and energy-saving actuators.

The study on Paperbot was published in the scientific journal Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical in July 2025, underscoring the significance of the research and its recognition as a reference at the international level, it added.

UMPSA also said the team is developing a smaller version of Paperbot for drug delivery or nanomaterial transport in narrow spaces, while also focusing on the use of graphene as a key material in next-generation robotics.

“This research also received university support through the UMPSA First in the World Flagship grant, in line with the theme of ‘Technology for the Community’ and efforts to strengthen the university’s position as a leader in advanced technology in Malaysia,” the statement said.

--BERNAMA