Researchers have developed a new resilient actuator that could allow soft robots to operate in extreme environments such as the stratosphere and outer space, where traditional soft robotic components ...

Soft actuation technology underpins high compliance, integration, and multifunctionality in soft robots, and has received growing attention in recent years. Among various soft actuators, twisted ...

When we think of assistive prostheses or braces, we often think of hard and rigid contraptions. After all, it wasn’t that long ago that prosthetic limbs were still being made out of wood. Even devices ...

Soft actuators—materials that change shape in response to stimuli—are considered the foundation of the next generation of robots. These materials, which can bend, twist, contract, and expand, promise ...

Building robots at microscopic scales creates an unusual engineering problem: even the simplest movements become difficult to ...

Humanoid actuators are responsible for bringing humanoid robots to life with physical motion, allowing humanoids to walk, lift objects, handle tools, and interact with the environment. As the humanoid ...

While grippers and propulsors (actuators) have long included soft smart materials, designers haven’t had as much success integrating them with optical systems, because traditional soft lenses often ...