Fig. 1

Response robots in mission: a CHIMP robot performing a DARPA robotic challenge task [14], b Quince rescue robot in a disaster site [15], c Shark Robotics’ Colossus robot extinguishing the fire and clearing away debris [16], d Soft growing robot navigating by exploiting the contact with train [17], e Karo rescue robot performing dexterity task at 2017 RoboCup competitions [18, 19], f Honda’s E2-DR walking on scattered debris [20], g Quadcopter developed by Swiss roboticists with retracting propeller arms fitting a narrow gap [21]