Materials and Systems for Closed-Loop Optical Actuation with Integrated Sensing Pathways

Closed-loop operation transforms optical platforms from passive emitters into adaptive systems capable of perceiving, deciding, and acting in real time. This work traces the progression of such systems across material, system, and artificial intelligence (AI)/network domains. At the material level, self-healing, phase-change, and shape-memory polymers exhibit intrinsic feedback-responsiveness, enabling autonomous mechanical and optical adaptation. System-level platforms integrate sensing, actuation, and feedback, ranging from wireless optogenetics and adaptive camouflage systems to on-skin haptic interfaces, demonstrating precise optical modulation and real-time environmental interaction. AI-assisted control further enhances these capabilities by extracting relevant signals from complex data and enabling predictive context-aware feedback. Looking forward, scalable manufacturing that supports large-area, high-density, and locally addressable architectures, combined with on-device AI for low-latency inference, will enable distributed, self-optimizing optical systems that seamlessly interact with users and their surroundings, bridging materials, machines, and intelligence.