(a) Representative photograph of CLCP film with nine +1 topological defects between crossed polarizers. The director orientation varies azimuthally around the defect. (b) Nine cones arise from the CLCP film upon heating. (c) Actuation with four +1 topological defects occurs in the presence of loads tens of times larger than the actuator weight. (d) Schematic of chemical structure of the main-chain CLCP that can be surface-aligned. Reprinted with permission from Ref. [24].