Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Technology disposal poses increasing pressure on the environment, society and economy. Scientists and engineers are seeking sustainable alternative solutions to meet these challenges, for example, through the development of sustainable soft robotics. Compared to conventional robotics, sustainable soft robotics can degrade into nothing at the end of their functional lives, leaving zero footprint in their surrounding environment. This is of paramount importance, especially in the push toward the ubiquity of robotic technology through advanced design and manufacturing techniques. Additive manufacturing (AM) describes the creation of 3D objects through the consecutive addition of material layers, enabling the fast prototyping of complex structures and devices, thereby reducing the financial and temporal cost in advanced robot development. The marriage of smart materials and AM can significantly promote the advancement of sustainable soft robotics technologies. In this roadmap, leading experts overview the status and development of sustainable soft robotics and provide insights into the exciting challenges and potential opportunities of sustainable actuators and sensors, AM technologies, functional materials, and robotic components across a wide range of application fields. This roadmap also serves as a vital compass for experts and enthusiasts in the field of sustainable soft robotics.
Source: Smart Materials and Structures
Authors: Qiukai Qi, Zhongkui Wang, Zhe Qiu, Hongying Zhang, Jonathan Rossiter, Emanuela Del Dottore, Barbara Mazzolai, Moslem Mohammadi, Ali Zolfagharian, Shakti Singh, Jinhwan Yoon, Milena Machado, Florian Hartmann, Jackson K Wilt, Mady N Corrigan, Robert J Wood, Lara S Laamari, Hedan Bai, Bokeon Kwak, Dario Floreano, Zhong Wang, Chao Tang, Huichan Zhao, David Hardman, Fumiya Iida, Valerio Francesco Annese, Alberto D Scaccabarozzi, Adrica Kyndiah, Mario Caironi, Ayoub Zumeit, Ravinder Dahiya, Kevin Holdcroft, Yusuf Furkan Kaya, Pham Huy Nguyen, Mirko Kovac, Shengbo Guo, Tarun Agarwal, Lijie Grace Zhang, Chen Xin, Li Zhang
Institutions: Harvard University, University of Bristol, Bristol Robotics Laboratory, Ritsumeikan University, State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Tsinghua University, National University of Singapore, University of Southern Denmark, Italian Institute of Technology, Deakin University, University of Seoul, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Ocean University of China, University of Cambridge, Center for Nano Science and Technology, Politecnico di Milano, Northeastern University, Empa, George Washington University, Chinese University of Hong Kong
Language: English
Subfield: Biomedical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,325
Funders: National Science Foundation, Australian Government, International Max Planck Research School for Environmental, Cellular and Molecular Microbiology, Royal Academy of Engineering, Imperial College London, European Commission, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, National Natural Science Foundation of China, University of Seoul, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Innovation and Technology Commission, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Natural Environment Research Council, HORIZON EUROPE European Innovation Council
Awards: EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Future Autonomous Robotic Systems (FARSCOPE-TU: Towards Ubiquity), UKRI Trustworthy Autonomous Systems Node in Functionality, 4D Bioprinting: The Next Generation of Living Biosystem Manufacturing, emPOWER: in-body artificial muscles for physical augmentation, function restoration, patient empowerment and future healthcare, The new science and technology of edible robots and robotic food for humans and animals, TRAILBLAZER: Biodegradable Living Materials, Made Smarter Innovation - Research Centre for Smart, Collaborative Industrial Robotics, EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Future Autonomous and Robotic Systems - FARSCOPE, SoRo for Health: Implantable soft robotics for restoration of physiological function, Materials Research Science and Engineering Center
OpenAlex ID: W7170149774