Soft Robotics

Soft robotics focuses on creating robots from highly deformable materials, enabling safer and more adaptable interaction with unstructured environments. Current research emphasizes developing advanced control algorithms (including physics-informed neural networks and quality diversity optimization) and improved sensing capabilities (like acoustic and capacitive e-skins) to enhance the precision and dexterity of these robots. This field is significant for its potential applications in diverse areas such as minimally invasive surgery, flexible manufacturing, and assistive devices, driving innovation in materials science, control theory, and robotic design.