The soft nature of silicone rubber makes it a core material for soft robotics. Through structural design and functional integration, synergies between biomimetic motion and environmental perception can be achieved.

1. Pneumatic Actuation Bionic Arm

A layered manufacturing technique was used to composite silicone rubber with fiber-reinforced layers, resulting in a bionic arm with pneumatic bending capabilities. At 0.3 MPa air pressure, the bending angle reached 180°, and the load capacity was 500 g. Internal fiber Bragg grating sensors enabled real-time monitoring of bending deformation, achieving closed-loop control precision of 0.1 mm.

2. Shape Memory Actuation System

A temperature-sensitive actuation material was developed by blending shape memory polymer (SMP) with silicone rubber. Pre-programmed "grasping" actions were completed within 30 seconds in 60°C hot water, with a recovery rate of 98%. This system has been applied to the end-effectors of minimally invasive surgical instruments.

3. Multimodal Perception Epidermis

A carbon nanotube (CNT) sensor array was embedded in silicone rubber to achieve simultaneous monitoring of pressure, temperature, and humidity. The sensor array had a resolution of 100 pixels/cm², a pressure detection limit of 10 Pa, and a response time of less than 50 ms, mimicking human skin’s tactile perception.



Low compression set precipitated silicone rubber