Announcements

Frontiers Research Topic: Bridging Physics and Data Intelligence: Modeling, Control, and Motion Planning of Soft and Continuum Robots (Deadline: 30.09.26)
ICRA Workshops on Soft Robotics:
- Monday:
- Friday:

Views and Reviews

2 entries

Nature-Inspired Innovation in Electrical Engineering Technologies and Applications (Adv Sci, Nov-25)
Systematic Review: Sterilization Techniques for Emerging Soft Robotics Used in Health Care Applications (SoRo Journal, Dec-25)

New Materials, Actuators & Stiffening Methods

39 entries

Phase-Change Alloys Enable Localized Reversible Stiffening and Actuation in Steerable Eversion Tip-Growing Robots (Adv Int Sys, Dec-25)
Magnetoactive bistable soft actuators for programmable large shape transformations at low magnetic fields (Nature, Nov-25)
Mechanically strengthened silicone-based origami structures via hierarchical interfacial shrink fitting (Science Advances, Oct-25)
Hovering of an Actively Driven Fluid-Lubricated Foil (Physical Review, Oct-25)
Ultrasound-driven programmable artificial muscles (Nature, Oct-25)
Design of Soft Outer Shells for Control of Large Spherical Robots (IEEE RA-L, Oct-25)
A Variable-Stiffness Robotic Link Based on Rotating-Rectangle Auxetic Structures for Safe Human-Robot Interaction (IEEE RA-L, Oct-25)
High Vacuum Pressure Constant-Mass Soft Origami Actuation for Passive Constant-Force Operation (IEEE RA-L, Oct-25)
Development of a Stick-Slip Dielectric Elastomer Actuator for Robotic Applications (IEEE RA-L, Oct-25)
Multifunctional and Reprogrammable Magnetoactive Graphene Oxide Origami (Adv Sci, Oct-25)
Soft Micromanipulation Robot for Real-Time Adaptive Multimodal Operation (Adv Sci, Oct-25)
Shapeshifting Liquid Metal Droplets for Soft Fluidic Machines (Adv Mater, Oct-25)
Foldable Soft Leg-Assisted Wheel Robot (Adv Sci, Oct-25)
Ion-Electron Fusion Transparent Film for Interactive Soft Robotics (Adv Sci, Oct-25)
Material-Level Integration of Magnetic Actuation and Triboelectric Sensing for Adaptive Soft Robotic Platforms (Adv Mater, Oct-25)
Programmable Sponge for Hydro-Active Morphing Module with Light Weight and High-Volume Change (Adv Func Mater, Oct-25)
Fast-Response and Large-Deformation Moisture-Driven Janus Structured Fiber Actuator Composed of Multiscale Hydrophilic-Hydrophobic Interfaces (Adv Func Mater, Oct-25)
OCTOID: A Soft Robotic System Featuring Programmable Shape Morphing and Dynamic Structural Coloration (Adv Func Mater, Oct-25)
Charge-Induced Morphing Gels for Bioinspired Actuation (Adv Func Mater, Oct-25)
Microfluidic Wet-Spun Core-Shell Elastomer Fibers with Integrated Sensing and Actuation Capabilities (Small, Oct-25)
An Amino-Yne Click Chemistry Approach for Multi-Responsive Liquid Crystal Elastomer Actuators (Small, Oct-25)
Multifunctional Origami-Inspired Bimodal Wireless Pneumatic Soft Actuator (SoRo Journal, Oct-25)
Soft Tubular-Surface Rolling Robots (SoRo Journal, Oct-25)
Highly Stretchable Polyurethane-Based Ionoelastomer for Robust Soft Robotic Sensing (Adv Func Mater, Nov-25)
Bionic Soft Anisotropic Metamaterials for Replicating Tissue-Like Large-Deformation Mechanics under Diverse Loadings (Adv Func Mater, Nov-25)
Controlled Movement of Soft Actuators using Multi-Responsive Microgel Arrays and Microcirculatory Systems (Adv Func Mater, Nov-25)
Photothermomechanically Efficient, Low-Cost, High-Cycle-Life, Hybrid MXene-Polymer Actuators (Adv Mater Tech, Nov-25)
Dual-Chamber One-Step Molding Actuator with Straight-Curved Crease Prismatic Design for Large-Range Motions and Structural Stability (Adv Sci, Nov-25)
Design and Implementation of an Electrostatic Adhesion-Driven Self-Sensing Actuator for Rapid, Stiffness-Modulated Pneumatic Actuators (IEEE RA-L, Nov-25)
Vector-stimuli-responsive magnetorheological fibrous materials (Nature, Nov-25)
Hysteresis-assisted shape morphing for soft continuum robots (Science Advances, Nov-25)
Modeling and Characterization of a Self-Sensing Soft Hydraulic Muscle (Adv Int Sys, Dec-25)
A Soft Actuator with Simultaneous Ultra-High Actuation Strain and Power Density Under Human-Safe Stimuli (Adv Mater, Dec-25)
Thermally Drawn Steerable Soft Robotic Fiber for Multi-Purpose Minimally Invasive Surgery (IEEE RA-L, Dec-25)
Multi-Chamber Origami Actuator via Dual Fabric Layers for Dexterous Motions (IEEE RA-L, Dec-25)
Origami Actuator with Tunable Limiting Layer for Morphological Adaptive Soft Robots (SoRo Journal, Dec-25)
A Stiffness-Tunable Soft Actuator with Adjustable Jamming for Dexterous Manipulation (SoRo Journal, Dec-25)
An Origami-Based Cable-Climbing Soft Robot (SoRo Journal, Dec-25)
Programmable Sponge for Hydro-Active Morphing Module with Light Weight and High-Volume Change (Adv Func Mater, Oct-25)

Sensing, Flexible Electronic & Skins

16 entries

PneuGelSight: Soft robotic vision-based proprioception and tactile sensing (IJRR, Oct-25)
A Dual-Ion Multiphysics Model for Smart and Sustainable Sensors Based on Bacterial Cellulose (Adv Int Sys, Oct-25)
Toward More Autonomous Soft Robots: Development and Characterization of a 3D-Printed Pneumatic Contact Sensor for a Six-Legged Soft Robotic Walker (Adv Int Sys, Oct-25)
Far-Field Magnetic Sensing on Soft Origami Actuator for Spatial Multidimensional Movement and Force Perception (SoRo Journal, Oct-25)
Fully Bio-Based Gelatin Organohydrogels via Enzymatic Crosslinking for Sustainable Soft Strain and Temperature Sensing (Adv Func Mater, Nov-25)
Bioinspired Amphibious Soft Robotics with Conformable Ultrasonic Array for Adaptive Defect Mapping and Terrain Reconstruction (Adv Func Mater, Nov-25)
Stimuli-Responsive Electrofluidic Nervous System for Autonomous Soft Robots (Adv Int Sys, Nov-25)
Sustainable Liquid Metal Composites for Soft Electronics and E-Waste Reduction (Adv Mater, Nov-25)
Intelligent Sensing: The Emerging Integration of Machine Learning and Soft Sensors Based on Hydrogels and Ionogels (Adv Sci, Nov-25)
Bi-Modal Self-Sensing Proprioception and Contact Detection in Dielectric Elastomer Soft Robots (IEEE RA-L, Nov-25)
Wavelength-Selective Parallel Sensing of Soft Optical Fibers for Wearable Applications (IEEE RA-L, Nov-25)
All-in-One Soft Capacitive Pressure Sensor with Adaptive Self-Healing Property in Diverse Harsh Environments (Adv Func Mater, Dec-25)
A Multimodal Laser-Induced Graphene-Based Flexible Sensor for Soft Robotic Hand Environmental Perception (Adv Int Sys, Dec-25)
Skin-Inspired, High-Sensitive, Nanocrack-Based Flexible Three-Directional Force Sensor for Soft Robots’ Sensing (Adv Mater Tech, Dec-25)
Stretchable Curvature Sensors for Motion Capture with Bending-Stretching Coupling Deformation (Adv Sci, Dec-25)
Spatiotemporally programmed dielectric liquid crystal elastomer: Electro-reversible 3D morphing via inverse 4D printing (Science Advances, Dec-25)

Fabrication Techniques & Hardware Toolkits

14 entries

A Compact, Self-Recovering Wire Electrode Electrohydrodynamic Pump for High-Speed McKibben Artificial Muscle Actuation (Adv Int Sys, Oct-25)
Dynamic Na plus Bridges: A 3D Printing Strategy for Hydrogels With High Strength, Low Hysteresis, Strong Adhesion, and Self-Healing (Adv Func Mater, Nov-25)
Gradient-Structured Hydrogel with Integrated Actuation and Strain Sensing for Biomimetic Robotics (Adv Func Mater, Nov-25)
A Standardized Framework for Elastomer Characterization in Soft Robotics (Adv Int Sys, Nov-25)
One-Step Printing of Heterogeneous 3D Soft Magnetic Machines (Adv Mater Tech, Nov-25)
Real-Time and Quantitative Monitoring of Soft Robotic Elastomer Crosslinking via Magnetic Levitation (Adv Mater Tech, Nov-25)
A Handheld Laser Soft Welding Process for the Homogeneous Repair and Modular Assembly of Soft Robots (Adv Mater Tech, Nov-25)
Self-Healing and Reprocessable Soft Robots Using 3D Digital Light Printing (Adv Sci, Nov-25)
A Soft Reprogrammable Permanent Magnet for Magnetic Soft Robots (IEEE RA-L, Nov-25)
A functionally complete logic gate in a soft photoresponsive hydrogel (Nature, Nov-25)
Bioinspired Tribologically Induced Liquid Metal Nanoparticle Coatings with Super-Lyophobic Characteristics for Soft Robotics (Small, Nov-25)
Rotational Multimaterial 3D Printing of Soft Robotic Matter With Embedded Asymmetrical Pneumatics (Adv Mater, Dec-25)
Laser Micromachining of Liquid Metal Patterns for Stretchable Electronic Circuits (Adv Mater Tech, Dec-25)
Multimaterial 3D printed soft robots with embedded actuation and sensing (Science Advances, Dec-25)

Locomotion, Swimming & Flying

4 entries

A Multimode Soft Robot Based on a Single Braided Tube (Adv Int Sys, Nov-25)
Soft Robotic Snake Locomotion on Curved Surfaces (SoRo Journal, Nov-25)
Self-Sustained, Continuous Jumping of a Light-Driven Electronics-Free Insect-Scale Soft Robot (Adv Mater, Dec-25)
A Teleost-Inspired Multimodal Locomotion Soft Robot with High Bandwidth Artificial Muscles (SoRo Journal, Dec-25)

Manipulation & Grasping

11 entries

Loop closure grasping: Topological transformations enable strong, gentle, and versatile grasps (Science Advances, Dec-25)
Two-Way Shape Memory Polymer Composite Gripper for Adaptive Robotic Applications (Adv Mater Tech, Oct-25)
Natural Entanglement Inspired Cilia-Like Soft Gripper for Rapid Adaptive Grasping (Adv Int Sys, Oct-25)
Enabling Tunable Stiffness, Adhesive Grasping, and Interaction-Driven Reconfiguration: A Shape-Memory-Polymer-Enhanced Fin-Ray Gripper (SoRo Journal, Oct-25)
Selective Variable Stiffness Flexible Manipulator for Dexterous In-Hand Manipulation (SoRo Journal, Oct-25)
Design and Experiments of an Enveloping Soft Gripper by Torsional Buckling for Food Handling (IEEE RA-L, Nov-25)
SCANS: A Soft Gripper With Curvature and Spectroscopy Sensors for In-Hand Material Differentiation (IEEE RA-L, Nov-25)
Humanoid finger with rigid-flexible-soft structure (Nature, Nov-25)
Adaptive-Twist Soft Finger Mechanism for Grasping by Wrapping (IEEE RA-L, Dec-25)
Feline Tongue-Inspired Filiform Microstructure Improving Grasp Performance of Soft Robotic Hands (SoRo Journal, Dec-25)
Everything-Grasping Gripper: A Universal Gripper with Synergistic Suction-Grasping Capabilities for Cross-Scale and Cross-State Manipulation (SoRo Journal, Dec-25)

Biomimicry & Bioinspiration

3 entries

Bioinspired photoresponsive soft robotic lens (Science Robotics, Dec-25)
High-Speed, Maneuverable, and Terrain-Adaptive Micro-Robot with Tree Frog-Inspired Bionic Feet (Adv Sci, Nov-25)
Bioinspired Color-Changing Polymeric Hydrogel Actuators/Robots (Adv Mater, Dec-25)

Soft Robot Applications

5 entries

Microbubble Sheath Empowered Pneumatic Artificial Muscles for Highly-Precise and Stable Needle Insertion (IEEE RA-L, Nov-25)
Electrostatically Driven Multi-Chamber Accordion Origami Air Pump (IEEE RA-L, Nov-25)
Myoelectric Origami-Based Soft Robotic Knee Exoskeleton to Enhance Sit-to-Stand Assistance in Elderly Populations (Adv Int Sys, Dec-25)
Ultra-Thin Soft Pneumatic Actuation for Minimally Invasive Neural Interfacing (Adv Mater Tech, Dec-25)
Soft Robotic Delivery of Coiled Anchors for Cardiac Interventions (IEEE RA-L, Dec-25)

Theory: Learning, Modeling, & Control

14 entries

Data-Driven Design of Bimodal Networked Dielectric Elastomers for High-Performance Artificial Muscles (Adv Int Sys, Oct-25)
Bridging High-Fidelity Simulations and Physics-Based Learning using a Surrogate Model for Soft Robot Control (Adv Int Sys, Oct-25)
Safe Autonomous Environmental Contact for Soft Robots Using Control Barrier Functions (IEEE RA-L, Oct-25)
PaGDeSA: An Automated Generative Design of Multimodal Soft Pneumatic Actuators (IEEE RA-L, Oct-25)
IPAS: A Compact Multi-Channel Pneumatic System With Embedded Hierarchical Control for Soft Dexterous Hands (IEEE RA-L, Oct-25)
Adaptive Control and Optimal Trajectory Generation for Highly Dynamic Tasks on a Soft Robot (SoRo Journal, Oct-25)
Empirical Contact Models for Soft Spherical Robots in Drake (IEEE RA-L, Nov-25)
Hysteresis-Aware Neural Network Modeling and Whole-Body Reinforcement Learning Control of Soft Robots (IEEE RA-L, Nov-25)
Cosserat Rods With Cross-Sectional Deformation for Soft Robot Modeling (IEEE RA-L, Nov-25)
Soft Robotic Sim2Real via Conditional Flow Matching (Adv Int Sys, Dec-25)
Contact-Aware Safety in Soft Robots Using High-Order Control Barrier and Lyapunov Functions (IEEE RA-L, Dec-25)
An End-to-End Framework for Modeling Pneumatic Soft Robots Based on Differentiable Finite Element Methods (IEEE RA-L, Dec-25)
Deformation Configuration Estimation for Soft Continuum Robot Utilizing Seq2Seq Learning (IEEE RA-L, Dec-25)
Stability-Guaranteed Control via Divergent-Component-of-Motion Feedback for Force-Based Balancing in Articulated-Soft Floating-Base Robots (IEEE RA-L, Dec-25)

Embodied Intelligence & Morphological Computation

1 entry

AI-embodied multi-modal flexible electronic robots with programmable sensing, actuating and self-learning (Nature, Nov-25)

Featured News Articles

Vine-inspired robotic gripper gently lifts heavy and fragile objects (MIT News, Dec-25)