A new display revolution might be coming shortly. A group of researchers from the University of Illinois found an innovative way to make a display more energy-efficient. The researchers have made a new kind of display we might call as soft robotic display. The display uses fluid to function. Sameh Tawfick, the research leader has been interested in capillary force since he was in graduate school. The research might not exist at all without the presence of natural creatures, such as Octopus or Tortoise Beetle that give the team inspiration to make fluid controlled displays. These creatures are so unique. The colour change in Octopus is initiated by stretching the ink-filled sacs. Beetles, on the other hand, secrete and drain fluid across their porous photonic structure to change appearance.

The capillary action of fluid will produce capillary force. It happens when the adhesion force between water molecules is weaker than the adhesion to the wall. As a result, the water might produce capillary force enough to push the flexible polymer fin in the display. Tiny pumps are utilized so that water can flow, so that the fin can be adjusted in the vertical or horizontal position. The result is shown below. The team has successfully made a functioning display that shows the letter U, I, and C.

Interestingly, this device can also show images that are visible with IR (infrared) camera, which is achieved by controlling the temperature of the fluid entering through the tiny pumps. The result is shown in the following picture.

In real life, we would use this kind of display in a vertical position, like a poster for an advertisement. But, to make this work, the liquid droplet size should be decreased, because when the liquid is smaller, it is less affected by the downward gravity force. But, if the droplet is smaller, smaller flexible polymer display may be used. Will this affect the cost of making the display? I believe that these tiny pixel boxes should be many in the scale of hundreds or thousands. Hopefully, we will see polymer display anytime soon.