Fiber-Shaped Soft Actuators: Fabrication, Actuation Mechanism and Application

As mechanical devices for moving or controlling mechanisms or systems, actuators have attracted increasing attention in various fields. Compared to traditional actuators with rigid structures, soft actuators made up of stimulus-responsive soft materials are more adaptable to complex working conditions due to soft bodies and diverse control styles. Different from plate-shaped soft actuators, which have the limited deformations between two dimensional (2D) and 3D-configurations such as bending and twisting, fiber-shaped soft actuators (FSAs) own intriguing deformation modes to satisfy diverse practical applications. In this mini review, the recent progress on the controlled fabrication of the FSAs is presented. The advantages and disadvantages of each fabrication method are also demonstrated. Subsequently, the as-developed actuation mechanisms of the FSAs are displayed. Additionally, typical examples of the related applications of the FSAs in different fields have been discussed. Finally, an outlook on the development tendency of the FSAs is put forward as well. Graphical Abstract A mini review concerns the recent progress of fiber-shaped soft actuators (FSAs) on the fabrication technology, actuation principle and application. In addition, an outlook on the development tendency of the FSAs is made.