Advances in Fabric-Based Pneumatic Soft Actuators for Flexible Robotics: Design and Applications

As a groundbreaking innovation in the field of soft robotics, fabric-based pneumatic soft actuators exhibit substantial advantages over traditional rigid mechanical systems in terms of adaptability, safety, and multifunctionality. This paper presents a thorough review of the design principles, classifications, and application advancements of these actuators. By leveraging the intrinsic flexibility and programmability of fabric materials, these actuators achieve complex and precise motion control through the modulation of internal air pressure. This review investigates the state-of-the-art research progress in overcoming critical challenges, such as enhancing multidirectional expansion capabilities, optimizing the trade-off between flexibility and driving force, and improving control accuracy and response speed. Furthermore, the integration of fabric-based actuators with flexible sensors is highlighted as a highly promising research direction, offering the potential to enhance device intelligence via real-time feedback and adaptive control functionalities. In conclusion, with ongoing advancements in material science, structural design, and control strategies, fabric-based pneumatic soft actuators are expected to unlock broader application potentials in domains such as healthcare, wearable technology, and human--computer interaction.