Y. Sakai: Ion Conducting Polymer Sensors .- L. Brehmer: Ultrathin Films for Sensorics and Molecular Electronics .- F. Baldini, S. Bracci: Polymers for Optical Fiber Sensors .- D.K. Das-Gupta: Smart Ferroelectric Ceramic/Polymer Composite Sensors .- R.A. Bailey, K.C. Persaud: Sensing Volatile Chemicals Using Conducting Polymer Arrays .- S. Shinkai, M. Takeuchi, A. Ikeda: Molecular Machines Useful for the Design of Chemosensors .- A. Mazzoldi, A. della Santa, D. de Rossi: Properties and Modelling of Conducting Polymer Actuators .- T. Hirai: Electrically Induced Strain in Polymer Gels Swollen with Non-Ionic Organic Solvents .- R. Kishi: Actuating Devices of Liquid-Crystalline Polymers .- J.P. Gong, Y. Osada: Gel Actuators .- T.F. Otero: Electrochemomechanical Devices Based on Conducting Polymers .- M. Shahinpoor: Ion-Exchange Polymer-Metal Composites as Biomimetic Sensors and Actuators .- M Suzuki, T. Kodama: Motor Protein Mechanism Coupled with Hydrophobic Hydration/Dehydration Cycle .- J. F.V. Vincent: Actuating Systems in Biology .- M. Zrinyi, D. Szabo, L. Barsi: Magnetic Field Sensitive Polymeric Actuators

Sensors and Actuators using polymeric systems is one of the most promising fields of "Intelligent Polymers", which is becoming more and more important associating with artificial sensing and actuating systems in living organisms. Some practical applications have now started to test in industry. The book covers optical, gas, taste, and other sensing systems using various kinds of polymers. Soft and wet actuating systems using polymer gels and networks are another field which caused excitation in the last year. The contributors are all pioneers in the field, and were selected from world-wide level. They provide the necessary background information and science to develop a basic understanding of the field, its supporting technologies and current applications. Besides, the overviews will provide a sense of how these supporting technologies can be combined to meet the requirements of advanced systems. Finally, the readers will learn about potential future developments.