3D/4D printing and robotics

Recent developments in manufacturing and materials science are revolutionizing the area of robotics, which is currently merging the world of smart and programmable materials with the field of mechatronics and automation. 3D printing has significantly contributed to this new wave of robotics as it allows for the rapid prototyping of complex parts and components. Recently developed smart materials have also boosted the rise of 3D printing. Smart materials represent a group of materials that under the application of an external stimulus, undergo physical or chemical changes. A promising technique to shape smart materials is 4D printing, a term that designates the fabrication of 3D stimuli-responsive architectures using a 3D printing strategy.