The Synergy of Electronic Polymers and Self-Driving Laboratories for Innovations in Soft Robots

In the realm of soft robotics, electronic polymers have emerged as important materials owing to their unique combination of mechanical viscoelasticity and electronic properties. These materials, including conductive and semiconductive polymers, are instrumental in crafting flexible coverings that empower soft robots to sense intricate environments and relay information to human counterparts. However, the quest to identify electronic polymers capable of realizing desired functionalities remains a formidable challenge. Traditional, manual methods, relying solely on human expertise, could entail decades of arduous research and development. In this context, self-driving laboratories, leveraging robotic automation and artificial intelligence, are revolutionizing the exploration and development of electronic polymers and soft devices tailored for soft robotics. In this presentation, I will begin by introducing our autonomous laboratory, aptly named 'Polybot.' Subsequently, I will delve into recent research, exemplifying autonomous electrochromic polymer discovery for applications in optical communication and autonomous polymer electrochemical sensor discovery, with the potential to serve as bio-sensing platforms within soft robotic systems.