Articles tagged with Soft Robotics
Engineers have shown that air flow through open-cell foam can be used to perform digital computation, analog sensing, and combined digital-analog control in soft textile-based wearable systems. The researchers designed foam-based fluidic resistors to create two-dimensional pneumatic logic circuits embedded in textile-based devices.
Scientists embedded gold nanorods in hydrogels that can contract when exposed to light and expand again upon removal. This expansion and contraction mechanism allows for remotely controlled actuators with endless design possibilities.
Researchers from Chiba University developed a foldable pouch actuator that enables finger extension in soft rehabilitation gloves, overcoming the limitation of existing actuators. The FPA facilitates joint-specific movements and has potential applications in telerehabilitation and care facilities.
Scientists have created a new type of battery that is soft and stretchable, making it suitable for wearables and medical implants. The 'jelly batteries' use hydrogels to deliver an electric current and can be stretched up to ten times their original length without losing conductivity.
Researchers created RoboFabric, a wearable fabric that can stiffen on demand for medical applications and soft robotics. The technology reduces muscle activity by up to 40% when assisting joints while lifting loads.
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University's PAI Lab developed groundbreaking multifunctional material-sensors that emulate natural systems, advancing Physical AI. The sensors can process diverse signals concurrently through ions and electrons, enabling versatile and lifelike interactions in fields like robotics and healthcare.
Scientists at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology developed a tiny 'claw machine' that can pick up and drop a marble-sized ball in response to exposure to chemical vapors. The material's properties can be precisely controlled, making it easy to customize.
Researchers at Northwestern University developed a new soft actuator that enables robots to move by expanding and contracting like human muscles. The device was used to create a cylindrical, worm-like robot and an artificial bicep, demonstrating its potential for safer and more practical applications.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a lightweight fluidic engine that can power muscle-mimicking soft robots for use in assistive devices. The new engine generates significant force and is untethered to an external power source, making it particularly attractive for improving people's ability to move their upp...
Researchers at NC State University have developed a technique to create miniature soft hydraulic actuators that can move small soft robots, allowing for exceptional control and delicacy. The actuators use shape memory polymers and microfluidic channels to control the motion and shape change of the soft robots.
The researchers created soft robots equipped with electronic skins and artificial muscles to sense their surroundings and adapt in real-time. These robots can perform various tasks, such as monitoring internal conditions, providing treatments, and delivering drugs over an extended period.
Researchers have developed a mathematical theory of knitted materials, enabling the creation of programmable textiles with adjustable elasticity. The study, led by Georgia Tech physicists, explores the relationships between yarn manipulation, stitch patterns, and fabric behavior to expand knitting's applications beyond clothing.
Researchers discover a microscopic phenomenon that enables hydrogels to swell and contract quickly, improving the flexibility of soft robots. This breakthrough could lead to faster and more agile robots with applications in healthcare, manufacturing, and search and rescue operations.
Researchers at IIT developed HybriBot, a biohybrid robot that uses a flour-based capsule and oat fruit appendages to disperse seeds, promoting reforestation. The device has been tested with tomato, chicory, and willow herb seeds in various soils, showing promising results.
Researchers at Princeton University and North Carolina State University have combined ancient paperfolding and modern materials science to create a soft robot that can bend and twist through mazes with ease. The new design allows the flexible robot to crawl forward and reverse, pick up cargo and assemble into longer formations.
Researchers developed tiny, flexible devices that can wrap around individual nerve fibers without damaging them. The robotic nerve cuffs are sensitive enough to grasp delicate nerves and only require tiny voltages to change shape.
Researchers have created a method to control pneumatic artificial muscles with embedded bifurcation structures, which can generate diverse dynamics and patterns. This breakthrough enables robots to exhibit more adaptable and flexible movements, streamlining hardware and software development.
Researchers have developed a method to create and repurpose artificial hairs with magnetic properties, enabling the control of motion at room temperature. The technique involves programming and reprogramming the magnetization of the magnetic particles in the cilia, allowing for changes in their behavior.
Eric Markvicka is developing a manufacturing approach to produce novel liquid metal mixtures with enhanced properties, including thermal and electrical conductivity. These mixtures can be used in additive manufacturing and accelerate momentum toward 4D printing, enabling the creation of machines that mimic biological organisms.
EPFL researchers develop DNGEs, 3D-printable double network granular elastomers that can vary their mechanical properties. These inks enable the creation of flexible devices with locally changing properties, eliminating the need for cumbersome mechanical joints.
A team of Rice University researchers has developed an analytical model that can predict the curing time of platinum-catalyzed silicone elastomers as a function of temperature. The model could help reduce energy waste and improve throughput for elastomer-based components manufacturing, enabling more efficient soft robotics design.
The new skin demonstrates excellent mechanical performance, self-adaptive camouflage capabilities, and long-term stability. It can quickly recognize and match the background by modulating optical signals in response to external stimuli.
Researchers created a soft robot mimicking 500-million-year-old pleurocystitids, suggesting a sweeping motion helped them glide through the ocean floor. The design also indicates longer stems enabled faster movement without increased energy expenditure.
Researchers have created artificial muscles that contract in response to electrical impulses, using a liquid-filled pouch with electrodes. The HALVE actuators can store energy well, lift weights, and are now waterproof and more robust than previous models.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge have developed a robotic sensor that reads Braille at twice the speed of humans, achieving 87% accuracy. The breakthrough uses machine learning algorithms to 'deblur' images and recognize letters, paving the way for potential applications in robotics and prosthetics.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo have created a two-legged biohybrid robot capable of walking and pivoting underwater. The robot uses lab-grown skeletal muscle tissue to move its legs, achieving efficient and silent movements. Future iterations aim to develop thicker muscles with nutrient supplies to enable robots to walk on land.
Researchers at KAIST develop a fluid switch using ionic polymer artificial muscles that operates at ultra-low power and produces a force 34 times greater than its weight. This technology has the potential to be immediately applied in various industrial settings.
Researchers have developed twisted ringbots that can roll forward, spin like a record, and follow an orbital path around a central point. These devices can navigate and map unknown environments without human or computer control.
A soft, wearable robot was used to help a person living with Parkinson’s disease walk without freezing, eliminating the debilitating symptom and allowing them to regain their independence. The device provided instantaneous effects and consistently improved walking in a range of conditions.
A Washington State University study found that watching videos of a soft robot working with a person at picking and placing tasks lowered the viewers' safety concerns and feelings of job insecurity. Soft robots have a potential psychological advantage over rigid robots, as proximity does not increase negative reactions.
ChromoSense uses a translucent rubber cylinder with colored sections to detect changes in bending, stretching, compression, and temperature. The device has potential applications in wearable technologies and soft robots, offering a more targeted and information-dense sensing solution than traditional camera-based systems.
A self-healing elastomer forms the flexible membrane of the gripper, which can heal from scratches and punctures in approximately nine minutes. The gripper's design enables recyclability, allowing for a sustainable option for universal grippers and soft robotics.
The Acer i-Seed is an eco-friendly artificial seed that uses drones to monitor soil temperature. Made from biocompatible and compostable materials, it replicates the aerodynamics of natural Acer seeds and becomes luminescent in response to temperature changes.
Researchers developed a new 3D inkjet printing system that works with a wider range of materials, including slower-curing materials. The system utilizes computer vision to automatically scan the print surface and adjust the amount of resin deposited in real time.
A new technology enables the printing of complex robots with soft, elastic, and rigid materials in one go. This allows for the creation of delicate structures and parts with cavities as desired.
Researchers designed magnetic soft robots using a mixture of magnetic particles and non-Newtonian fluidic soft materials to achieve programmable hardening, controlled adhesion, and flexible deployment. The robots demonstrate enhanced stiffness, output forces, and reconfiguration capabilities for various medical applications.
Researchers used a robotic system to test the repeatable healability of a self-healing actuator, finding that it can endure up to 53 cycles before suffering permanent damage. The study aims to prevent soft robot actuators from being disposed due to permanent damage.
A team of University of Waterloo researchers has developed bio-compatible and non-toxic hydrogel composites using sustainable cellulose nanoparticles derived from plants. The tiny robots have the potential to conduct medical procedures, such as biopsy, and cell and tissue transport in a minimally invasive fashion.
Researchers created a hydrogel mat with magnetic microparticles that mimic the forces of exercise. The team found that regularly exercising muscle cells resulted in longer, aligned fibers, and improved contraction capabilities.
Multistable mechanical metamaterials can switch between multiple stable configurations under external loading, making them reusable and efficient for quick action. Their unique properties make them promising for various engineering applications, including energy absorption, soft actuators/robots, and wave control.
Researchers developed a groundbreaking soft valve technology that integrates sensors and control valves into soft robots, eliminating the need for electric components. This innovation enables safe operation underwater or in environments with sparks risks, reducing weight burdens and costs.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have created a soft robot that can navigate simple mazes without human or computer guidance. The new robot has an asymmetrical design, allowing it to turn and move in arcs, enabling it to navigate complex and dynamic environments.
Researchers created stretchable strain sensors that can measure large and complex deformations accurately. The new sensors respond quickly, detecting deformations in under 22 milliseconds, and can be used to monitor organs for diseases like bladder abnormalities.
Researchers discovered CYP450s exhibit unique soft-robotic properties, acting as sensors and responding to stimuli. The findings open up new avenues in soft-robotics research, potentially revolutionizing fields like AI design and nanomachine synthesis.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed a system that uses fluid mechanics and chemo-mechanical processes to autonomously assemble hierarchical 3D structures. The system utilizes sticky bonds to drive self-organization, allowing for the construction of complex devices with minimal external intervention.
Researchers have created a one-of-a-kind shape-shifting display that can generate scrolling text and fast enough to shake a chemistry beaker. The device uses soft robotic muscles that sense outside pressure, pop up to create patterns, and could potentially deliver the sense of touch in a digital age.
Hang aims to develop general-purpose robots that can handle complex physical interactions without requiring perfect input from sensors or extensive instructions. His project seeks to improve robotic manipulation tasks by reducing assumptions about how the robot acts in real-world conditions.
ROSE, a novel soft gripping robotic gripper, boasts remarkable durability, scalability and effectiveness in handling fragile objects, with potential applications in harvesting, sorting and cluttered environments.
A team of researchers at Harvard University has developed a compact, soft pump that can power soft robots in various applications. The pump uses dielectric elastomer actuators and can control pressure, flow rate, and flow direction, making it suitable for biomedical settings.
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have created a new type of electric variable-stiffness artificial muscle with self-sensing capabilities, revolutionizing soft robotics and medical applications. The innovative technology enables rapid reactions and force sensing, making it ideal for integration into intricate robotic systems.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a new type of flexible display that uses capillary-controlled robotic flapping fins and liquid droplets to create switchable optical and infrared light multipixel displays. The displays are 1,000 times more energy efficient than traditional LED screens.
Researchers developed a soft robotic exoskeleton glove using AI to improve hand dexterity and classify song variations. The device provides real-time feedback and adjustments, making it easier for users to grasp correct movement techniques, with an accuracy of 97.13% in classifying correct and incorrect song versions.
A soft robotics glove with integrated sensors and AI can aid patients in relearning daily tasks after neurotrauma, including playing music. The glove provides hand guidance, amplifying dexterity and motor skills.
Researchers created a robot inspired by pangolins' ability to curl up into a ball, with a soft layer and hard metal components. The robot can emit heat when needed and transport particles like medicines, making it promising for minimally invasive medical procedures.
The study proposes a new method called programmable pulsed aerodynamic printing (PPAP) that enables precise generation of multi-interface droplets with varying Z numbers. This technology has broad potential for applications such as cell encapsulation, controlled drug release, and self-assembly.
Scientists have developed a technique for applying liquid metal to surfaces that don't easily bond with it, using force-responsive adhesion. The method allows for the creation of electronic 'smart devices' from everyday materials like paper and plastic.
A new ankle exosuit designed for community use could help stroke survivors improve their walking propulsion, boost confidence, and ability, according to a proof-of-concept study. The device simplifies mechanical components and allows wearers to control it easily, with sensors tracking progress over time.
Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University have created a fabric and sensing system, RobotSweater, that allows machines to better interact with humans. The knitted textile 'skin' can sense contact and pressure, enabling robots to move in response to human gestures.
The study presents a novel, deployable electrode array for minimally invasive craniosurgery, featuring spiraled arms that unfold over sensitive brain tissue. The device's eversion mechanism allows for arbitrary size deployment with minimal compression on the brain.
Researchers at Arizona State University have designed a drone with an inflatable frame that can absorb impact forces and provide collision resilience. The drone's stiffness is tunable, allowing it to physically interact with its surroundings and accomplish tasks like perching, which involves controlled collisions.