WORKSHOP ROBOSOFT 2026

The workshop “Edible Technologies and Robotic Food” will explore the emerging convergence of food science, materials engineering, and soft robotics. As edible robotic components and robotic food emerge as tangible technologies, they open new pathways for sustainable, biocompatible, and interactive soft systems. 

Invited speakers from different domains such as robotics, materials science, physiology, consumer behavior, food design and the culinary arts will present recent advances in edible sensing, actuation, and energy systems, along with visions for programmable edible matter and robotic food. The workshop will critically examine the challenges of achieving fully edible, functional components, addressing questions of safety, consumer habits, and degradation, while envisioning their potential across medical, environmental, and experiential domains. Interactive sessions will invite participants to engage in polls and discussions on public perception, ethical dimensions, and the willingness to consume or work with edible robots. 

Key topics include edible electronics and sensing, edible millifluidics, soft edible actuation, edible energy sources and energy harvesting from digestible materials, experimental gastronomy, soft robots based on food waste or byproducts and animated food as robots. Participants will gain an overview of current research frontiers and the potential of edible technologies as a new class of sustainable, embodied soft systems. By connecting disciplines across robotics, science, culinary art and design, this workshop aims to inspire the RoboSoft community to rethink materials, interfaces, and the very boundaries of what a robot can be and perhaps, what it could taste like.