Soft robot review: Actuation and application

Abstract

Soft robots are made of flexible materials and theoretically have unlimited freedom, allowing them to change their shape and size at will. Compared with traditional rigid robots, soft robots have more diversified actuation modes, and intelligent material actuation has become the main actuation mode of soft robots. Soft robots have better affinity and adaptability with living things, which makes soft robots have a wider range of applications. This paper reviews the research of soft robots in recent years and introduces soft robots from two aspects of their actuation mode and application field. The actuation modes of soft robots can be divided into fluidic actuation, SMA actuation, EAP actuation, responsive hydrogel actuation, and some other actuation modes. The soft robot has better human-computer interaction ability and environmental adaptability, so it is commonly used in the field of human-computer interaction, medical field, bionics and operation, and other fields. Finally, the development of soft robots up to now is summarized and future development is prospected.