Breakthrough in Soft Robotics: Researchers Develop Highly Stretchable Actuators

Strategic Insights -

Researchers from Sichuan University have made a significant breakthrough in the development of soft robotics, designing highly stretchable actuators that can be seamlessly integrated into wearable textiles. The actuators, made from shape memory alloys, offer high energy density, large mechanical outputs, and versatile shape changes, but their inherent rigidity limited their use in soft actuators. To overcome this challenge, the researchers created an artificial muscle fiber that combines the phase transition of shape memory alloys and polymer chain realignment of stretchable elastomers.

Key Takeaways:

  • The researchers developed a highly stretchable fibrous actuator with a stretchability of 120%, robust reversibility under cyclic thermal activation, and large actuation strain of 32%. (A Highly Stretchable Fibrous Actuator With Robust Cyclic Actuation and Reprogrammable Motions, InfoMat, 2025)
  • The actuators can produce bidirectional forces, with an extension force of 1.2 N and a contraction force of 4.3 N.
  • The actuators can undergo repetitive shape programming for different morphing modes, making them suitable for various soft robotic applications. (A Highly Stretchable Fibrous Actuator With Robust Cyclic Actuation and Reprogrammable Motions, InfoMat, 2025)
  • The researchers demonstrated the potential of the actuators in various soft robotic applications, including a fibrous robot for curvilinear pipe navigation, a stretchable wearable exoskeleton, and an untethered soft actuator driven by external electromagnetic fields.
  • The study received financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and was published in InfoMat in 2025. (A Highly Stretchable Fibrous Actuator With Robust Cyclic Actuation and Reprogrammable Motions, InfoMat, 2025)
  • The research team, led by Jiangxin Wang, consists of 11 authors, including Guangchuan Chen, Jiawei Liu, Chengliang Tao, Xiaxia Cheng, Yanfeng Hou, Yan Yang, Shengkang Fu, Xin Xie, and Quanjing Mei. (NewsRx, New Engineering Study Findings Reported from Sichuan University, Journal of Engineering, 2025)

Statistics:

  • 120% stretchability of the fibrous actuators (A Highly Stretchable Fibrous Actuator With Robust Cyclic Actuation and Reprogrammable Motions, InfoMat, 2025)
  • 1.2 N extension force and 4.3 N contraction force of the actuators (A Highly Stretchable Fibrous Actuator With Robust Cyclic Actuation and Reprogrammable Motions, InfoMat, 2025)
  • 32% actuation strain of the actuators (A Highly Stretchable Fibrous Actuator With Robust Cyclic Actuation and Reprogrammable Motions, InfoMat, 2025)
  • 11 authors on the research team, led by Jiangxin Wang (NewsRx, New Engineering Study Findings Reported from Sichuan University, Journal of Engineering, 2025)

Sources:

  • A Highly Stretchable Fibrous Actuator With Robust Cyclic Actuation and Reprogrammable Motions (InfoMat, 2025)
  • NewsRx. New Engineering Study Findings Reported from Sichuan University (Journal of Engineering, 2025)
  • NewsRx LLC (2025, October 20). New Engineering Study Findings Reported from Sichuan University (A Highly Stretchable Fibrous Actuator With Robust Cyclic Actuation and Reprogrammable Motions). Journal of Engineering, 1735.