Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Mechanical Systems

Mechanical Systems

Mechanical systems are analogous to to electrical networks where springs and masses play similar roles to inductors and capacitors, respectively. A viscous damper in mechanical systems functions similarly to a resistor in electrical networks, dissipating energy. The forces acting on a mass in such systems include an applied force in the direction of motion, counteracted by forces from the spring, a viscous damper, and the mass's acceleration. This interplay of forces is mathematically...

Thermosensation

Thermosensation

Peripheral thermosensation is the perception of external temperature. A change in temperature (on the surface of the skin and other tissues) is detected by a family of temperature-sensitive ion channels called Transient Receptor Potential, or TRP, receptors. These receptors are located on free nerve endings. Those detecting cold temperatures are closer to the surface of the skin than the nerve endings detecting warmth. These thermoTRP channels, while temperature selective, have relatively...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Armadillo-inspired active morphing skeletons for soft machines.

Science advances·2026

Same author

Soft wearable sensors for monitoring symptoms of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases: a review.

Progress in biomedical engineering (Bristol, England)·2025

Same author

Biodegradable Chitosan-Based Stretchable Electronics with Recyclable Silver Nanowires.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2025

Same author

Encapsulated stretchable amphibious strain sensors.

Materials horizons·2024

Same author

Modular multi-degree-of-freedom soft origami robots with reprogrammable electrothermal actuation.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2024

Same author

Surface Embedded Metal Nanowire-Liquid Metal-Elastomer Hybrid Composites for Stretchable Electronics.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2024

Same journal

Bioinspired Electrostatic-Field Perturbated Sensing for General Material Noncontact Perception.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)·2026

Same journal

Engineering Layered Magnetic Hydrogels for Cell Placement via Shear and Magnetic Field-Induced Assembly.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)·2026

Same journal

Interfacial Acid Sites-Mediated ZnO-Based Electrocatalysts for Sustainable Dual-Pathway H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> Production and Rechargeable Zn-H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> Electrochemical Cell.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)·2026

Same journal

Zein-Ceria Hybrid Microparticles Enable Long-Term ROS-Scavenging Oxygenation for Osteogenic Microtissues Engineering.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)·2026

Same journal

Toward Practical Solid-State Lithium Batteries With High-Nickel Cathodes: An Interface-Centered Perspective.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)·2026

Same journal

A Planarity-Hindrance Co-Balance Strategy to Develop Antiparallel H-Aggregates With Minimal Absorbance Blueshift for Type I Photodynamic Therapy.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 14, 2025

Fabrication of Soft Pneumatic Network Actuators with Oblique Chambers

Fabrication of Soft Pneumatic Network Actuators with Oblique Chambers

Published on: August 17, 2018

Thermally Actuated Soft Robotics.

Shuang Wu¹, Seol-Yee Jennifer Lee¹, Yong Zhu¹

¹Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA.

Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)

|July 25, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Soft thermal actuators offer programmable, lightweight, and untethered operation for robots. This review covers their heating mechanisms, materials, designs, and applications in diverse fields.

Keywords:

bioinspiration soft actuators soft robots thermal actuation

More Related Videos

Fabrication of Carbon-Based Ionic Electromechanically Active Soft Actuators

Fabrication of Carbon-Based Ionic Electromechanically Active Soft Actuators

Published on: April 25, 2020

Four-Dimensional Printing of Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogel-Based Soft Robots

Four-Dimensional Printing of Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogel-Based Soft Robots

Published on: January 13, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 14, 2025

Fabrication of Soft Pneumatic Network Actuators with Oblique Chambers

Fabrication of Soft Pneumatic Network Actuators with Oblique Chambers

Published on: August 17, 2018

Fabrication of Carbon-Based Ionic Electromechanically Active Soft Actuators

Fabrication of Carbon-Based Ionic Electromechanically Active Soft Actuators

Published on: April 25, 2020

Four-Dimensional Printing of Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogel-Based Soft Robots

Four-Dimensional Printing of Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogel-Based Soft Robots

Published on: January 13, 2023

Area of Science:

Robotics
Materials Science
Actuation Systems

Background:

Soft robots offer adaptability for complex environments.
Thermal actuation is a key method for soft robots, providing programmability and untethered operation.
This review focuses on soft thermal actuators.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide a comprehensive overview of soft thermal actuators.
To discuss heating mechanisms, material innovations, structural designs, and applications.
To highlight challenges and future directions in the field.

Main Methods:

Review of heat generation mechanisms (Joule heating, electromagnetic induction, radiation).
Analysis of heat transfer mechanisms (fluid convection).
Categorization of material advances into heating (nanomaterials) and responsive materials (hydrogels, LCEs, SMPs).
Exploration of structural designs (extension, bending, twisting, 3D deformation).

Main Results:

Soft thermal actuators utilize diverse heating and heat transfer mechanisms.
Material innovations include nanomaterials for heating and responsive polymers for actuation.
Structural designs enable complex movements for various applications.
Applications span environmental exploration, manipulation, biomedical devices, and interactive systems.

Conclusions:

Soft thermal actuators are versatile for numerous applications.
Further improvements in speed, energy efficiency, and intelligence are needed.
This review bridges fundamental principles with applications to inspire future advancements.