Izr. prof. dr. Marko Šimic, univ. dipl. inž., doc. dr. Miha Pipan, univ. dipl. inž., prof. dr. Niko Herakovič, univ. dipl. inž., vsi Univerza v Ljubljani, Fakulteta za strojništvo

Ventil 32 (2026) 4 / Review articles / Review scientific article – 1.02

Abstract​:
The growing demand for more energy-efficient, flexible and intelligent industrial systems is driving intensive development and innovation in the field of pneumatics. The development of miniature 3D-printed and soft pneumatic actuators enables lightweight, flexible and safe solutions for use in robotics and biomedical applications. Proportional and digital pneumatics are further developing towards Industry 4.0, with reinforcement learning methods improving the adaptability of control systems. Methods for reducing energy consumption, including intermittent compressed air supply, shut-off circuits for pressure regulation, optimized component sizing and new flow damping approaches. Calculation of gripping force based on motion trajectory and analysis of the product’s carbon footprint contribute to the implementation of sustainable practices. The field of soft robotics is further enriched by new actuator designs, data-driven models and nonlinear control strategies. Experimental results confirm the practical applicability and effectiveness of the presented technologies. The review thus confirms pneumatics as a versatile, efficient and environmentally responsible technology platform for modern automation, which, through the integration of the Internet of Things (IoT), digital twins and hybrid systems, represents an important foundation for future fluid technology solutions.

Key words:
Pneumatics, energy efficiency, robotics, intelligent control, automation, sustainability

Copyright (c) 2026 Marko Šimic, Miha Pipan, Niko Herakovič

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