Inspired by physically adaptive, agile, reconfigurable and multifunctional soft-bodied
animals and human muscles, soft actuators have been developed for a variety of …

Soft robots' flexibility and compliance give them the potential to outperform traditional rigid-
bodied robots while performing multiple tasks in unexpectedly changing environments and …

Autonomous robots comprise actuation, energy, sensory and control systems built from
materials and structures that are not necessarily designed and integrated for …

Abstract Magneto-/electro-responsive polymers (MERPs) are a class of stimuli-responsive
materials that are actuated when triggered by external magnetic/electric fields. MERPs …

Underwater devices are critical for environmental applications. However, existing prototypes
typically use bulky, noisy actuators and limited configurations. Consequently, they struggle …

Combating environmental pollution demands a focus on sustainability, in particular from
rapidly advancing technologies that are poised to be ubiquitous in modern societies. Among …

New classes of functional soft materials show promise to revolutionize robotics. Now
materials scientists must focus on realizing the predicted performance of these materials and …

Artificial muscles are promising in soft exoskeletons, locomotion robots, and operation
machines. However, their performance in contraction ratio, output force, and dynamic …

Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) with large electrically-actuated strain can build light-
weight and flexible non-magnetic motors. However, dielectric elastomers commonly used in …

Flexible electronic skin with features that include sensing, processing, and responding to
stimuli have transformed human–robot interactions. However, more advanced capabilities …