2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Soft robotics represents an emerging area with growing applications in automation, healthcare, and environmental systems. Beyond its technical potential, it provides rich opportunities for experiential, multidisciplinary learning that integrates engineering, design, and applied problem-solving. However, access to soft robotics education remains limited, often confined to specialized majors. This work-in-progress paper reports on the early design and pilot implementation stages of a project designed to broaden participation and foster cross-disciplinary collaboration in soft robotics education among undergraduate students. The research team developed and hosted a series of low-barrier, hands-on workshops in the university library, providing an inclusive, neutral space for undergraduate students from multiple engineering majors to participate. Participants formed multidisciplinary teams to design and prototype modular soft robotic solutions through iterative build-and-test activities grounded in project-based learning principles. To examine how these experiences influence students’ self-efficacy, teamwork, and interest in soft robotics, the study employs a mixed-methods approach including surveys, interviews, classroom observations, and analysis of student-created artifacts. Preliminary findings highlight both the affordances and challenges of multidisciplinary, hands-on soft robotics learning environments, including the roles of iteration, productive struggle, instructional scaffolding, and teaching assistant (TA) support. Results will inform strategies for integrating soft robotics into broader engineering curricula and for designing experiential programs that support better student outcomes.