As the field of soft robotics continues to grow, it is clear that it is no longer in its adolescence. Simulation tools, sensing strategies, and fabrication methods are beginning to mature, providing a stronger foundation than ever before. Yet this progress also brings us to an impasse: should we continue to draw inspiration from traditional robotics paradigms, or rethink our design strategies to fully exploit the unique properties of soft materials?
Unlike rigid robots, where sensors are an afterthought or integrated into actuators such as motors with encoders, soft robots face inherent challenges of material mismatch. This creates unique demands for sensing, modeling, and control that are inseparable from fabrication and material choice. Bridging this gap calls for monolithic soft systems, where actuation, sensing, and structure are developed together through shared design strategies.
The first part of this workshop will highlight specific technologies that make such integration possible, including advances in simulation, embedded sensing, and fabrication. The second part will focus on integrated and monolithic systems, showcasing how these technologies come together in complete soft robots where sensing, actuation, and structure operate as one. Through talks, poster sessions, and discussions, participants will explore recent examples that demonstrate the benefits and challenges of achieving full integration in practice. By bringing together perspectives from engineering, biology, and materials science, the workshop aims to identify key directions for designing and realizing the next generation of soft robotic systems.
