Soft Robotics Worldwide

Discovery combined RoboSoft programmes and organizer lists, existing directories, and Chinese community discussions. Lab and institutional sources were used to check names and affiliations. Conference participation is not a ranking of research quality.

Each entry distinguishes a directly read official page from an official search-index check. Some links lead to an institution or PI profile. Multi-institution teams and moves between institutions are noted where relevant. Groups active in multiple regions appear in each relevant section.

Primary discovery references: RoboSoft 2026 committee, plenary speakers, and keynote speakers.

Initial source review: 20 October 2026. Research themes are short editorial summaries; this is not an exhaustive directory. Unconfirmed follow-up candidates are excluded.

This collection covers dedicated soft robotics tools and broader robotics infrastructure. A software license does not automatically cover hardware, purchased components, datasets, or model weights. Noncommercial designs and mixed-scope systems remain explicitly labeled.

Sources were reviewed on 20 October 2026. This is a curated starting point, not a popularity ranking or a claim that every project is actively maintained. Installation, compatibility, and hardware reproduction were not tested. Candidates with unresolved license scope are excluded.

An editorial selection, not an exhaustive bibliography or ranking. Links resolve to the published papers; full-text access varies by publisher. Focused reviews appear with their actuator type; cross-cutting reviews appear under “General reviews.” References checked on 20 October 2026.

Start with what you need to estimate: body deformation, contact, force, motion, distance, or temperature. Select the operating range, spatial coverage, bandwidth, and environment before choosing a sensing approach.

A resistance, capacitance, image, or pressure reading becomes an estimate of force or shape through calibration or a model. Check hysteresis, drift, loading rate, temperature, and sensitivity to other deformation modes under the intended conditions.

Compare the whole sensing system, including wiring, electronics, illumination, processing, and mounting. Some entries are transduction principles; EIT and vision-based touch are sensing architectures built around them. Neither a rigid readout package nor a reconstruction algorithm is itself a stretchable sensing material.

An introductory guide with original research, project documentation, and manufacturer references in each entry. Examples illustrate sensing approaches; their public availability and licenses vary. Sources reviewed on 20 October 2026.

Reviews map research topics and methods. Perspectives develop arguments and future directions. Blogs & essays include community writing, institutional explainers, and company accounts, with the source format labeled in each entry.

These are short editorial introductions linking to the original sources. Some papers require institutional access. Publication years describe the source; review dates record our link and content checks. Foundational readings are included alongside more recent discussions.

Suggest a review, viewpoint, or blog post: [email protected].

Manually curated, not a live vacancy feed. Each entry records its source and review date. Lab recruitment pages do not guarantee funded places. Past deadlines are hidden by default; entries not reviewed for more than 30 days are marked for rechecking. Check the original advertisement before applying.

Open calls and confirmed registration opportunities come first, ordered by the nearest submission or registration deadline. Upcoming and ongoing events follow by start date. Closed calls and past events remain below, with the most recent first. Each group initially shows a short list and can be expanded with Show more.

A future conference date does not mean registration is open. Registration status links to the organizer's page; conditional proposal calls retain their invitation requirements. Unconfirmed and outdated availability goes with upcoming entries for rechecking.

In progress and Ended refer to the event dates in the venue time zone. Submission status follows the organizer's deadline. Proposal calls and invitation requirements are labeled separately.

Dates and deadlines were checked against organizer websites on 20 October 2026. Check the linked source for changes and submission requirements.