This paper explores the concept of reflexive actuation, examining how robots may leverage both internal and external stimuli to trigger changes in the motion, performance, or physical characteristics of the robot, such as its size, shape, or configuration, and so on. These changes themselves may in turn be sequentially re-used as input to drive further adaptations. Drawing inspiration from biological systems, where reflexes are an essential component of the response to environmental changes, reflexive actuation is critical to enable robots to adapt to diverse situations and perform complex tasks. The underlying principles of reflexive actuation are analyzed, with examples provided from existing implementations such as contact-sensitive reflexive arms, physical counters, and their applications. The paper also outlines future directions and challenges for advancing this research area, emphasizing its significance in the development of adaptive, responsive robotic systems.

翻译：本文探讨了反射式驱动的概念，研究机器人如何利用内部和外部刺激来触发其运动、性能或物理特性（如尺寸、形状或构型等）的变化。这些变化本身又可被顺序地重新用作输入，以驱动进一步的适应。受生物系统的启发（其中反射是应对环境变化的关键组成部分），反射式驱动对于使机器人适应多样化情境并执行复杂任务至关重要。本文分析了反射式驱动的基本原理，并通过现有实现案例（如接触敏感反射臂、物理计数器及其应用）进行了例证。文章还展望了推进该研究领域的未来方向与挑战，强调了其在开发自适应、响应式机器人系统中的重要意义。