In the flourishing field of soft robotics, strategies to embody communication and collective motion are scarce. Here we report the synchronized oscillations of thin plastic actuators by an approach reminiscent of the synchronized motion of pendula and metronomes. Two liquid crystalline network oscillators fuelled by light influence the movement of one another and display synchronized oscillations in-phase and anti-phase in a steady state. By observing entrainment between the asymmetric oscillators we demonstrate the existence of coupling between the two actuators. We qualitatively explain the origin of the synchronized motion using a theoretical model and numerical simulations, which suggest that the motion can be tuned by the mechanical properties of the coupling joint. We thus anticipate that the complex synchronization phenomena usually observed in rigid systems can also exist in soft polymeric materials. This enables the use of new stimuli, featuring an example of collective motion by photo-actuation.

在蓬勃发展的软机器人领域，体现交流和集体运动的策略很少见。在这里，我们通过一种让人联想到钟摆和节拍器同步运动的方法来报告薄塑料致动器的同步振荡。由光驱动的两个液晶网络振荡器会影响彼此的运动，并在稳定状态下显示同相和反相的同步振荡。通过观察不对称振荡器之间的夹带，我们证明了两个执行器之间存在耦合。我们使用理论模型和数值模拟定性地解释了同步运动的起源，这表明运动可以通过联轴器的机械特性进行调整。因此，我们预计通常在刚性系统中观察到的复杂同步现象也可能存在于软聚合物材料中。这使得可以使用新的刺激，以光致动的集体运动为例。