Dear Colleagues,

Robotics research is rapidly advancing and has attracted the attention of a large number of researchers. Based on the material characteristics of their bodies, robots can generally be classified as rigid robots and soft robots. Rigid robots have reliable structures and high motion precision, and can withstand large loads. Soft robots, taking advantage of their compliance, can adapt to complex and irregular environments and have a relatively strong resistance to impacts. Compared to traditional rigid robots, they offer better safety and adaptability. With their unique advantages, soft robots hold tremendous potential in fields like medical endoscopy and surgery, search and rescue in ruins, food processing, and dexterous manipulation. Compared to traditional rigid robots, soft robots exhibit strong specificity in actuation, sensing, and control. Currently, new types of soft actuators, sensors, and circuits are emerging in large numbers. This Special Issue will focus on the actuation, sensing, control, and application of soft robots, publishing a series of high-level papers to showcase the latest research findings in the field of soft robots and promote the transition of soft robotics from theory to application.

This Special Issue’s main goal is to present a cutting-edge collection of articles presenting novel developments in soft robot actuation, control, and application, as well as experimental studies relating to their use in real-world applications. This Special Issue covers a variety of contributions from different fields.

Dr. Han Yuan
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• soft actuators
• soft robots
• flexible electronics
• strain sensors
• artificial muscle
• electroactive polymers
• compliant mechanism
• sensors
• tactile sensors

Title: Supercoiled Polymer Artificial Muscle Using Conductive Thread with Superior Toughness and Durability
Authors: Kazuya Tada
Affiliation: University of Hyogo
Abstract: Soft actuators made from flexible materials such as polymers, also called artificial muscles, are a fundamental technology for soft robotics. Among them, supercoiled polymeric artificial muscles, which are fabricated by applying torsion to threads made of polymers such as nylon to induce self-coiling, have attracted much attention because they are made from commercially available reliable materials and are extremely lightweight. Silver-plated nylon conductive threads are commercially available, and artificial muscles using conductive threads can be directly electrically driven by using Joule heating. Although such conductive threads are available at sewing supply stores, the manufacturer and specifications are not usually disclosed, and in many cases, the durability is also questionable. In this study, we fabricated a supercoiled polymeric artificial muscle using a conductive thread with excellent durability and toughness, which is commercially available under the trade name Super-X, and evaluated its operating characteristics.

Title: Pneumatic Actuator-Based Soft Haptic Interface for Tactile Sensing and Feedback
Authors: Mingyu Kang; Tae-Woo Kim; Min-Seung Park; Ye-Sol Jung; Soo-Hyun Lee,; Soonjae Pyo
Affiliation: Department of Mechanical Design Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Republic of Korea
Abstract: We propose a soft haptic interface utilizing an EcoFlex Series-based Soft Gripper and pneumatic actuators, aimed at enhancing tactile experiences for users. Utilizing vision recognition, the interface accurately tracks user hand movements, conveying this to a robotic hand for real-time object sensation replication. The FSR sensors and FSR Matrix attached to the robotic hand transmit pressure data to a user's haptic glove, where a pneumatic module provides direct pressure and vibration stimuli. This innovation enables remote task execution, with significant implications for healthcare, disaster response, and space exploration, enhancing the potential of human-machine interactions in critical fields.