What is it?
Soft robotics focuses on the design, fabrication, and control of robots made from soft, flexible, and compliant materials, such as silicone, rubber, or fabric. Unlike traditional rigid robots, soft robots can adapt to their environment, interact safely with humans, and perform delicate tasks.
Why is it important?
Soft robots can interact safely with humans due to their inherent compliance and lack of sharp edges or rigid components, making them suitable for applications in healthcare, assistive technology, and collaborative work environments. Soft robots can adapt to unstructured and dynamic environments, navigate through confined spaces, and recover from collisions or deformations, making them more resilient than traditional rigid robots. The compliance and dexterity of soft robots enable them to perform delicate manipulation tasks, such as handling fragile objects or interacting with soft tissues, which is difficult for rigid robots.
What industries will it impact?
Healthcare and biomedical, Manufacturing and assembly, Agriculture and Food Processing, Marine.
Market players
Mementis, Soft Robotics, Soft Robot Tech, Spectroplast, Squishy Robotics.