  Micron-size self-propelling particles are often proposed as synthetic models
for biological microswimmers, yet they lack internally regulated adaptation,
which is central to the autonomy of their biological counterparts. Conversely,
adaptation and autonomy can be encoded in larger-scale soft-robotic devices,
but transferring these capabilities to the colloidal scale remains elusive.
Here, we create a new class of responsive microswimmers, powered by
induced-charge electrophoresis, which can adapt their motility to external
stimuli via an internal feedback. Using sequential capillary assembly, we
fabricate deterministic colloidal clusters comprising soft thermoresponsive
microparticles, which, upon spontaneous reconfiguration, induce motility
changes, such as adaptation of the clusters' propulsion velocity and reversal
of its direction. We rationalize the response in terms of a coupling between
self-propulsion and variations of particle shape and dielectric properties.
Harnessing those allows for strategies to achieve local dynamical control with
simple illumination patterns, revealing exciting opportunities for the
development of new tactic active materials.
