Discontinuous Tension-Controlled Transition between Collective Actuations in Active Solids

The recent finding of collective actuation in active solids-solids embedded with active units-is a new promise for the design of multifunctional materials with genuine autonomy, and a better understanding of dense biological systems. Here, we combine the experimental study of centimetric model active solids, the numerical study of an agent-based model, and theoretical arguments to reveal a new form of collective actuation and how mechanical tension can serve as a general mechanism for transitioning between different collective actuation regimes. The presence of hysteresis when varying tension back and forth highlights the nontrivial selectivity of collective actuations.

Automated summary

The recent finding of collective actuation in active solids provides new possibilities for the design of multifunctional materials and the understanding of biological systems. The study combines experimental and numerical approaches to reveal a new form of collective actuation and highlight the role of mechanical tension in transitioning between different actuation regimes. The presence of hysteresis emphasizes the nontrivial selectivity of collective actuations.