Jiangtao Su, Shun An, Lucia Beccai, Lei Chen, Xingyu Chen, Shengshun Duan, Lioz Etgar, Huajian Gao, Amir D Gat, Qi Ge, Shang Gong, Cuntai Guan, Robert K Katzschmann, Cecilia Laschi, Pooi See Lee, Jiaji Li, Yifan Li, Chwee Teck Lim, Qingyang Liu, Ziwei Liu, Daniel Mandler, Yoav Matia, Barbara Mazzolai, Han Wei Ng, Soo Jay Phee, Meital Reches, Ignazio Roppolo, Robert F Shepherd, Rou Yun Teo, Ryan L Truby, Pablo Valdivia Y Alvarado, Ziwei Wang, Lydia H Wong, Joel K W Yang, Chen Hua Yeow, Shlomo Magdassi, Xiaodong Chen
Soft robotics is evolving from a field centered on compliant mechanisms toward a broader paradigm of embodied physical intelligence, in which materials, mechanics, sensing, and computation are deeply integrated. Despite rapid progress, major challenges remain in actuation, perception, autonomy, scalability, and real-world deployment. In this Nano Focus article, we highlight emerging frontiers and technological challenges spanning multifunctional materials, distributed sensing, additive manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and biohybrid systems. Advances in nanoscience and nanotechnology increasingly underpin these developments by enabling the integration of sensing, actuation, and adaptive functionalities across length scales. Collectively, these advances are establishing a foundation for intelligent matter, programmable physical intelligence, and life-like adaptive systems.