How squishy robots learn to move without wheels

Soft mobile robots abandon rigid wheels for deformable bodies that slither, crawl, or undulate across terrain. This review surveys locomotion strategies, actuation methods (pneumatic, hydraulic, cable-driven), and control approaches developed over the past two decades. The appeal is clear: flexibility lets them squeeze through tight spaces and navigate unpredictable environments better than conventional robots, but challenges remain in modeling their complex dynamics and building systems that respond fast enough for real-world tasks.