The evolution of robot-driven system from traditional driven system to intelligent flexible system

As the core of robots, the drive system’s performance dictates robots’ mobility, adaptability and task efficiency. This article reviews the evolution of robot drive tech, from traditional motor drive to flexible drive based on smart materials and bionics, analyzing advantages, limitations and principles of various drive technologies. It summarizes operation modes of traditional motor, pneumatic and hydraulic drives, and principles of new drives like shape memory alloy, bionic drive, dielectric elastomer and pneumatic artificial muscle. Moreover, it introduces progress in cutting-edge areas: multimodal drive cooperative control optimizing motion synergy, human-machine interaction force perception enhancing operational safety, and extreme environment adaptability designs boosting durability. It also discusses technical bottlenecks such as material fatigue and energy loss, along with future trends like intelligent adaptive control. Currently, key research focuses on robots’ autonomous operation in extreme environments for high-precision tasks. The article offers theoretical references for interdisciplinary innovation, integrating biology and bionics to enhance robots’ movement and efficiency in specific environments.