Abstract: Recent research progresses of the cross-disciplines between robots and active deformable materials at home and abroad are introduced. The robots with active deformable materials are classified into three kinds by their deformability, i.e. telescopic, curving and twisting robots. Besides, the applications of representative additive manufacturing technologies to the robots with active deformable materials are illustrated, including 3D printing, doping and microfabrication. Finally, the unsolved research difficulties and the predicted future trends in this field are given.