Advancing Soft Robotics with Polymers

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue aims to showcase cutting-edge research in the field of soft robotics, emphasizing the integration and innovation of polymer materials. This Special Issue will cover a broad spectrum of topics, including the development of new models for soft robotic mechanics, advanced sensing techniques that enhance robotic perception and interaction, innovative driving mechanisms that leverage the unique properties of polymers, and sophisticated control systems that enable adaptive and autonomous behavior in soft robotic platforms. Contributors are encouraged to submit original research articles and comprehensive reviews that explore these themes. We are particularly interested in contributions that address the challenges of integrating polymer materials into soft robotic systems, including, but not limited to, durability, flexibility, and response efficiency. Studies that offer novel insights into the computational strategies for modeling the behavior of polymer-based soft robots or that present groundbreaking approaches to the design and fabrication of these systems are also welcome.

This Special Issue will provide a platform for researchers to discuss the potential of polymers in enhancing the functionality and application scopes of soft robots. Papers are expected to contribute to the theoretical bases of soft robotics or demonstrate significant advancements in practical applications such as healthcare, disaster recovery, and adaptive manufacturing systems.

Dr. Chaoqun Xiang
Dr. Ye Chen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 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.

• polymer materials in the modelling
• sensing, driving, and control of soft robots soft sensors
• soft actuators
• flexible polymer theories and principles
• design and modeling of flexible polymer electronics
• programmable shape-shifting flexible polymer electronics
• 3D printing
• bioinspired soft robotics
• novel sensors and actuators based on flexible polymer electronics
• stretchable electrodes
• vibration control in soft robot
• kirigami and origami
• biocompatible electrodes
• wearable robot
• vibration utilization in soft robots
• surface integrity