Liquid crystalline polymers (LCP) that actuate under confinement adopt shapes with complexity that is upconverted beyond that encoded by their nascent patterning. Twisted nematic LCP thermally transform into simple spiral structures, when unconstrained. Confining them into rings or rigidly fixtured rectangular elasticas induces their self-assembly into supercoils, prismatic folded trusses, twisted and bent tape spring geometries. No additional material patterning, localized stimulation or training is required. Along its way, the actuation unlocks mechanical instabilities that can power impulsive responses. The self-assembled structures also sustain dynamic responses. These include motility via crawling and kinematic manipulation in a crank-rocker mechanism from an otherwise unstructured thermal stimulus. Interacting assemblages of the individually confined LCP build functionally relevant structures, including airframes and gripper-arm mimicking geometries. Thus, confinement is shown to free shape selection from a one-to-one correspondence to the blueprinted microstructure in active polymers.

在受限条件下致动的液晶聚合物（LCP）的形状复杂，其上转换的范围超出了其新生图案所编码的范围。不受约束时，扭曲向列LCP会热转化为简单的螺旋结构。将它们限制在环形或刚性固定的矩形弹性体中，可使其自动组装成超螺旋，棱柱形折叠桁架，扭曲和弯曲的带状弹簧几何形状。不需要其他材料图案，局部刺激或训练。在执行过程中，执行机构会解除机械不稳定，从而为脉冲响应提供动力。自组装结构还可以承受动态响应。这些包括通过蠕动运动以及在曲柄摇杆机构中的运动学运动，这些运动原本是非结构化的热刺激。单独封闭的LCP的相互作用组件构建了功能相关的结构，包括机身和模仿几何的grip臂。因此，示出了限制以自由选择形状与活性聚合物中的蓝图微观结构一一对应的形状。