Flexible robots are a novel type of robots whose core components are composed of soft materials or flexible structures. Compared to rigid robots, they exhibit higher compliance and flexibility, superior environmental adaptability, and safer interaction. Based on biomimetic materials and structures, we create high payload-to-weight ratio, multimodal, long life-cycle pneumatic artificial muscles and fatigue-resistant tendon driven flexible actuation structures. Combined with intelligent control algorithms, we develop a new generation of lightweight, high-safety, and high-adaptive flexible dexterous hands, robotic arms, humanoid robots, and other embodied intelligent robots. The relevant achievements are expected to be applied in fields such as aerospace (e.g., smart deployable structures), aviation (e.g., morphing aircrafts), underwater (e.g., flexible robotic fishes), medical (e.g., implantable devices), and industry (e.g., intelligent flexible robotic hands).

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  Elephant-trunk inspired pneumatic artificial muscle

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  High payload-to-weight ratio flexible arm

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  FinRay inspired smart flexible grasping system