Shazed Aziz, Xi Zhang, Bidita Salahuddin, Umme Salma Khanam, Pratheep K. Annamalai, Luigi‐Jules Vandi, John Bell, Peter J. Halley, Zhonghua Zhu, Ashok Kumar Nanjundan
Soft robotic systems enable autonomous shape morphing through intrinsically stimuli-responsive materials, marking a significant advance over conventional rigid, component-based robots. While multi-material soft actuators offer functional versatility, they often compromise structural continuity and design simplicity which are central tenets of soft robotics. By contrast, monolithic soft robotic systems (MSRs) employ single-phase or compositionally unified material architectures that embed actuation functionality directly into the material–geometry construct. This review studies key actuation mechanisms, canonical morpho-functional shape archetypes and programmable material platforms that collectively underpin MSR operation. We examine how deformation logic can be encoded into a material via intrinsic property gradients, internal anisotropies and field-responsive domains, thereby enabling scalable, adaptive responses to external stimuli. Finally, we outline key scientific challenges and strategic directions for MSR development, including the integration of embedded intelligence, model-based programmability, fabrication scalability, sustainable material innovation and multifunctional autonomy.