Advancements in Soft Robotics: A Comprehensive Review on Actuation Methods, Materials, and Applications

Area of Science:

• Robotics
• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Soft robots exhibit remarkable flexibility and adaptability, enabling diverse applications such as flower picking, fruit harvesting, in vivo targeted treatment, and information feedback.
• The performance of soft robots is highly dependent on their working environments, actuation methods, and material composition, leading to varied functionalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review the current research status of soft robots.
• To analyze soft robots from the perspectives of actuation methods, materials, and application areas.
• To provide insights into the technical challenges and future directions for soft robot development.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of existing literature on soft robots.
• Categorization of soft robots based on actuation methods (humidity, temperature, PH, electricity, pressure, magnetic field, light, biological, hybrid).
• Analysis of materials used in soft robots, including hydrogels, shape-memory materials, and other flexible materials.
• Examination of application areas such as camouflage, medical devices, electrical equipment, and grippers.

Main Results:

• Soft robots utilize a wide array of actuation methods, including environmental stimuli (humidity, temperature, PH, light) and external fields (electricity, pressure, magnetic field), alongside biological and hybrid drives.
• Key materials employed include hydrogels, shape-memory polymers, and other flexible composites, contributing to the robots' unique properties.
• Applications span diverse fields, demonstrating the versatility of soft robots in areas like medical devices, grippers, and camouflage technology.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the interplay between actuation, materials, and applications is crucial for advancing soft robot technology.
• Addressing technical difficulties and challenges is essential for enhancing the capabilities and expanding the applications of soft robots.
• Further development of soft robots holds significant potential for improving various aspects of human life.