Actuation strategies and applications for high-output power soft robots

Luohui Zhou; Zefeng Wei; Qiguang He; Huyue Chen; Li Zhang; Xudong Liang

doi:10.1016/j.fmre.2026.04.026

Actuation strategies and applications for high-output power soft robots

Luohui Zhou
, Zefeng Wei
, Qiguang He^*
, Huyue Chen
, Li Zhang
, Xudong Liang^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Harbin Institute of Technology
Chinese University of Hong Kong

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Recent breakthroughs in soft robotics have enabled transformative applications in manipulation, surgery, rehabilitation, and confined space exploration, driven by versatile smart materials that sense and respond to optical, thermal, electrical, and chemical stimuli. However, output power remains constrained by limited energy storage, delayed responses, and considerable dissipation. This review systematically examines the core design principles for agile locomotion, identifying three key strategies for high-output power through power amplification (PA): 1) increasing effective energy storage, 2) improving energy conversion efficiency by constraining losses, and 3) reducing energy release duration with latching mechanisms. By surveying representative examples across terrestrial, aerial, and aquatic environments, this work outlines key challenges and future directions to advance next-generation, high-output power soft robots. These insights lay a foundational framework to guide future innovations in soft robotics where enhanced actuation strength, speed, and functionality are essential.

Original language	English
Journal	Fundamental Research
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fmre.2026.04.026
State	Accepted/In press - 2026
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Actuation strategies
High-output power
Power amplification
Robotic design
Soft robots

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10.1016/j.fmre.2026.04.026

Cite this

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title = "Actuation strategies and applications for high-output power soft robots",

abstract = "Recent breakthroughs in soft robotics have enabled transformative applications in manipulation, surgery, rehabilitation, and confined space exploration, driven by versatile smart materials that sense and respond to optical, thermal, electrical, and chemical stimuli. However, output power remains constrained by limited energy storage, delayed responses, and considerable dissipation. This review systematically examines the core design principles for agile locomotion, identifying three key strategies for high-output power through power amplification (PA): 1) increasing effective energy storage, 2) improving energy conversion efficiency by constraining losses, and 3) reducing energy release duration with latching mechanisms. By surveying representative examples across terrestrial, aerial, and aquatic environments, this work outlines key challenges and future directions to advance next-generation, high-output power soft robots. These insights lay a foundational framework to guide future innovations in soft robotics where enhanced actuation strength, speed, and functionality are essential.",

keywords = "Actuation strategies, High-output power, Power amplification, Robotic design, Soft robots",

author = "Luohui Zhou and Zefeng Wei and Qiguang He and Huyue Chen and Li Zhang and Xudong Liang",

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year = "2026",

doi = "10.1016/j.fmre.2026.04.026",

language = "英语",

journal = "Fundamental Research",

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T1 - Actuation strategies and applications for high-output power soft robots

AU - Zhou, Luohui

AU - Wei, Zefeng

AU - He, Qiguang

AU - Chen, Huyue

AU - Zhang, Li

AU - Liang, Xudong

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - Recent breakthroughs in soft robotics have enabled transformative applications in manipulation, surgery, rehabilitation, and confined space exploration, driven by versatile smart materials that sense and respond to optical, thermal, electrical, and chemical stimuli. However, output power remains constrained by limited energy storage, delayed responses, and considerable dissipation. This review systematically examines the core design principles for agile locomotion, identifying three key strategies for high-output power through power amplification (PA): 1) increasing effective energy storage, 2) improving energy conversion efficiency by constraining losses, and 3) reducing energy release duration with latching mechanisms. By surveying representative examples across terrestrial, aerial, and aquatic environments, this work outlines key challenges and future directions to advance next-generation, high-output power soft robots. These insights lay a foundational framework to guide future innovations in soft robotics where enhanced actuation strength, speed, and functionality are essential.

AB - Recent breakthroughs in soft robotics have enabled transformative applications in manipulation, surgery, rehabilitation, and confined space exploration, driven by versatile smart materials that sense and respond to optical, thermal, electrical, and chemical stimuli. However, output power remains constrained by limited energy storage, delayed responses, and considerable dissipation. This review systematically examines the core design principles for agile locomotion, identifying three key strategies for high-output power through power amplification (PA): 1) increasing effective energy storage, 2) improving energy conversion efficiency by constraining losses, and 3) reducing energy release duration with latching mechanisms. By surveying representative examples across terrestrial, aerial, and aquatic environments, this work outlines key challenges and future directions to advance next-generation, high-output power soft robots. These insights lay a foundational framework to guide future innovations in soft robotics where enhanced actuation strength, speed, and functionality are essential.

KW - Actuation strategies

KW - High-output power

KW - Power amplification

KW - Robotic design

KW - Soft robots

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105039107796

U2 - 10.1016/j.fmre.2026.04.026

DO - 10.1016/j.fmre.2026.04.026

M3 - 文献综述

AN - SCOPUS:105039107796

SN - 2096-9457

JO - Fundamental Research

JF - Fundamental Research

ER -

Actuation strategies and applications for high-output power soft robots

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Keywords

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