## 3 Bio-Inspired Application Prospects  
The principle of biomimetics strives us to learn how nature has refined and not necessarily to imitate but redefine the characteristic qualities of natural systems that will be pertinent to designed robotic structures. One such possible way to explore the potential of biological principles present in nature is through their wide application in soft robotics. Currently, we can notice copious research works experiencing the design history approach for the re-examination of nature designs using technological tools. The most recent incarnation of synthetic efforts has been the development of functionally diverse LCPs in order  
Figure 9: Chemical structures of (**a**) azo-crosslinker (c 74 \({}^{\circ}\)C n 91 \({}^{\circ}\)C i), (**b**) azo monomer (c 53 \({}^{\circ}\)C n 84 \({}^{\circ}\)C i), and (**c**) non-azo-crosslinker (c 66 \({}^{\circ}\)C n 92 \({}^{\circ}\)C i) use to construct LCE system by [PERSON] et al. [72]. Note: c = crystalline, n = nematic, and i = isotropic. to address customized applications in soft robotics [56; 62; 73; 74; 75; 76; 77]. To accomplish the basic mechanical winding and unwinding motions inspired by plant tendrils, [PERSON] et al. [78] developed the LCPs with azo-crosslinkers. A small quantity of chiral dopants (S-811) fine-tunes the liquid-crystal director to achieve a complex range of dynamic mechanical behavior that mimics plant tendril structures (see Figure 10 for chemical structures of chiral dopants used by [PERSON] et al. in addition to azobenzene monomers/crosslinkers for the preparation of CLCP films, which mimic the plant tendril structures. See Figure 11a for the photograph of a cucumber plant tendril with bending and chiral twisting distortions). Inspired by the flapping motions of insect wings generating three-dimensional (3-D) motions like bending and twisting for the capability of agile flight, [PERSON] et al. [79] synthesized azobenzene-based uniaxially aligned \"monodomain\" azo-liquid crystalline network [(azo-LCN) - designated here as MD-20 CL)]. The developed LC polymer comparatively contains appropriate concentration (\(\sim\)20 wt. %) of azobenzene crosslinker to LC monomer used (Similar chemical structure, as shown in Figure 9a, but with six flexible -CH\({}_{2}\)- spacers on both sides). The oscillatory responses were obtained after exposing MD-20 CL cantilevers to 1.0 W cm\({}^{-2}\) of 442 nm. The authors evidently confirm that the dimensionality of the oscillations is strongly influenced by the alignment of nematic director to the cantilever. On exposure to coherent wave laser (442 nm), bending of the sample arise due to the development of non-uniform strain through the sample thickness. Whereas the modifications in the orientation of the nematic director generate a shear gradient that motives the twisting behavior of the cantilever. These flexural torsional oscillations replicate 3-D motions like bending, sweeping, and twisting to generate flapping motions [80]. The authors performed photopolymerization to achieve glassy, high modulus azo-LCN. Because of preferential alignment LC mesogens along the rubbing direction, the modulus of MD-20 CL turns into anisotropic. The measured storage modulus measured parallel to nematic director was approximately 1 GPa and 0.6 GPa when measured perpendicular to nematic director [79]. The technical benefit of LCE material developed by [PERSON] et al. [80] is advantageous because of the preparation of comparatively thick films despite LC alignment procedure, which is eventually useful in transmitting heavier loads. Taking the advantage of two-step crosslinking mechanism proposed by [PERSON] and [PERSON], two different pre-crosslinked LCE samples could be impulsively attached together during the second hydrosilylation crosslinking step, without using additional glues. As shown in Figure 11b,c, the LCE ribbons attain helical configurations in 8 s after exposing to near-infrared light source. The ribbons fully recover to their original shapes immediately after removing the light source.