Stretchable Shape Sensing and Computation for General Shape-Changing Robots

An ideal robot could autonomously complete diverse tasks such as ocean surveying, kitchen cleaning, and aerial environmental monitoring. However, robots optimized for each task typically have different shapes, posing a challenge in reconciling form and function. This challenge inspires the pursuit of general shape-changing robots (GSCRs). While soft materials and actuators are promising for GSCRs due to their ability to accommodate extreme deformations, there is a gap between the vision of GSCRs and the simple examples we see today. Two critical components are needed: robot-agnostic stretchable shape sensing and stretchable computing. Together, these components would enable closed-loop shape control and the first instantiations of GSCRs. This review aims to consolidate the literature on these components, encouraging researchers to bridge the gap between today's shape-changing robots and the envisioned GSCRs, ultimately advancing the field toward more versatile and adaptive robots.