polymers-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Advancing Soft Robotics with Polymers

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Smart and Functional Polymers".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 June 2025 | Viewed by 1202

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
Interests: soft robot; soft sensors; modeling; control theory; soft actuator
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
College of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Liaoning University of Technology, Jinzhou 121001, China
Interests: vibration utilization; soft robot; modeling

Special Issue Information

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.

Keywords

  • 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

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

16 pages, 6672 KiB  
Article
Application of Fuzzy Adaptive Impedance Control Based on Backstepping Method for PAM Elbow Exoskeleton in Rehabilitation
by Zhirui Zhao, Xinyu Hou, Dexing Shan, Hongjun Liu, Hongshuai Liu and Lina Hao
Polymers 2024, 16(24), 3533; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16243533 - 18 Dec 2024
Viewed by 751
Abstract
In this study, a fuzzy adaptive impedance control method integrating the backstepping control for the PAM elbow exoskeleton was developed to facilitate robot-assisted rehabilitation tasks. The proposed method uses fuzzy logic to adjust impedance parameters, thereby optimizing user adaptability and reducing interactive torque, [...] Read more.
In this study, a fuzzy adaptive impedance control method integrating the backstepping control for the PAM elbow exoskeleton was developed to facilitate robot-assisted rehabilitation tasks. The proposed method uses fuzzy logic to adjust impedance parameters, thereby optimizing user adaptability and reducing interactive torque, which are major limitations of traditional impedance control methods. Furthermore, a repetitive learning algorithm and an adaptive control strategy were incorporated to improve the performance of position accuracy, addressing the time-varying uncertainties and nonlinear disturbances inherent in the exoskeleton. The stability of the proposed controller was tested, and then corresponding simulations and an elbow flexion and extension rehabilitation experiment were performed. The results showed that, with the proposed method, the root mean square of the tracking error was 0.032 rad (i.e., 21.95% less than that of the PID method), and the steady-state interactive torque was 1.917 N·m (i.e., 46.49% less than that of the traditional impedance control). These values exceeded those of the existing methods and supported the potential application of the proposed method for other soft actuators and robots. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Soft Robotics with Polymers)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop