In recent years, robotics has witnessed a transformative shift with the emergence of soft continuum robots. These robotic systems, inspired by similar systems in the natural world, have captured the imagination of researchers, engineers, and industry leaders alike. Unlike their traditional robotic counterparts based on rigid elements, soft continuum robots exhibit a remarkable flexibility, adaptability, and even biocompatibility that open a plethora of possibilities for applications across diverse domains.

The motivation behind the creation of soft continuum robots is deeply rooted in mimicking the biomechanical capabilities of organisms like elephant trunks, octopuses, and even the human body itself. These robots are constructed from compliant materials and are designed to negotiate complex and unstructured environments with ease. In case of manipulation their ability to manipulate objects delicately, access confined spaces, and conform to the contours of their surroundings has positioned them as innovative solutions in fields such as healthcare, manufacturing, exploration, and beyond. However, for all the promise and potential that such manipulators hold, there exist significant challenges and bottlenecks on the path to realizing their full capabilities. The intricacies of incorporating sensing, having robust techniques for modelling and control, and deployment in real environments pose strong challenges.

In this workshop we aim to gather researchers from different disciplines (like engineering, material science, computer science, and robotics) and industry professionals to highlight the interesting characteristics of the current approaches, discuss their pros and cons, delineate the main issues to be solved and provide insights on the next steps to be accomplished by the research community.