The Integration of a Material Structure with Sensors and Effectors—From Theory to Technology

One of the directions of modern development in the field of material research is the inclusion of features, enabling them to detect external stimuli and change their own properties in order to adapt to changes in the environment. Such materials evoke a new design philosophy that combines the actions of sensors, executive mechanisms, and control functions in one structure, which are capable of changing their response, depending on changes detected in the environment. In the article, the authors confront the expectations of theoretical solutions with the practical possibilities of modern technologies for the creation of intelligent engineering materials.