The rapid evolution of flexible manipulation and intelligent sensing technologies has ushered in transformative capabilities across various domains, including minimally invasive surgery, adaptive manufacturing, human-robot collaboration, and exploration in unstructured environments. From continuum robots navigating through narrow spaces to soft grippers handling delicate objects with human-level dexterity, these systems epitomize the convergence of advanced materials, distributed sensing, and adaptive control. Yet, despite significant progress chronicled in preceding chapters of this book, the path toward robust, scalable, and autonomous deployment remains fraught with profound technical barriers.