Polymers as the Primary Fabrication Material for Soft Robotic Grippers: A Concise Review

Each component implemented in a robotic system requires a priority on low weight, flexibility, and durability. These key parameters for creating a stable yet flexible device can be achieved by applying polymer materials in the construction, not only in the static parts of the skeleton but also in the design and production of robotic grippers. This concise review highlights the possibilities of using polymers as the primary fabrication material for the specific area of “soft grippers” used in dental production. The main part of the article is devoted to analyzing polymer materials—specifically SMPs—their modifications, the characteristics of their primary properties, and the specifics of their use in robotic grippers. The article also provides information on the current state of research conducted over the last decade, through a brief overview obtained from the renowned Web of Science and Scopus databases. As part of the overview, we used basic keywords relevant to the analyzed issue: soft, gripper, and polymer. The review results indicate continuous growth in the number of publications, with the highest increase recorded in 2016 compared to 2016, showing more than a fourfold increase. The lowest increase was recorded in 2020 compared to 2019, where the publication rate was stagnant. The most frequently published documents are Articles, comprising 80.1% to 68.3% (more than 5000 publications). The most popular categories in which documents were published are Engineering 27.1%, (more than 4500 publications) and Materials Science Multidisciplinary 45.2% (more than 180 publications). Based on this review, the importance and need for research into this issue and its analysis can be confirmed, not only in practical applications but also within theoretical reviews and summaries.