Recent Advances in Soft Robotics: Smart Materials, Novel Actuation Technologies, and Emerging Applications in Biomedical and Industrial Systems

Abstract

The new challenge of soft robotics is changing the arena of adaptive and smart systems with compliant materials by focusing on nonconventional actuation approaches to achieve their functioning characteristics to biological systems. Herein, the most recent advances in soft robotics are described focusing on three major areas: (i) incorporation of new smart materials-like hydrogel-based tissue-mimicking compliances, liquid crystal elastomers-based anisotropic responsiveness, and shape-memory polymers-based programmable actuation; (ii) novel types of actuation like pneumatic inflation, electroactive polymers-based electrically driven deformation, and magnetic field-responsive actuation; and (iii) real-life applications in biomedical engineering (examples including soft prosthet The review is a summary of the existing methodologies, experimental standards, and design code, with their mechanical efficiency, biocompatibility, and energy requirements being assessed. Such critical challenges as reaching the ideal of real-time closed-loop control, enhancing actuator robustness, the miniaturization of devices and effective electrical energy transduypion are examined. The paper ends with future research directions such as combinations of soft robotics with artificial intelligence, embedded sensing and multifunctional materials in order to facilitate intelligence based and autonomous systems of soft robots. All these are to applicable to scholars who are trying to develop and implement the next generation robotic systems both in clinical and in industrial sectors.